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Al-Qaeda bombing, financial networks degraded

PUKmedia 28-09-2008 17:32:24

mnf-iraq.com

Al-Qaeda in Iraq’s car bomb and financial networks were further debilitated by the capture of seven suspected terrorists during Coalition force operations Saturday and Sunday.

An operation in Baghdad Saturday netted one wanted man who is believed to be a key player in AQI’s improvised explosive device network. Another suspect was also detained during the operation.

Coalition forces, acting on a tip from a suspected terrorist already in custody, targeted a wanted man assessed to be one of AQI's financial bookkeepers in eastern Mosul early Sunday. When forces arrived at the location, the man was taken into custody without incident.

Then the detained man, who is believed to oversee AQI's terrorist payroll, led Coalition forces to a second location where they arrested four more men believed to be his associates.

"Attacking the innocent children and citizens must stop and Coalition forces will continue to seek out terrorists that threaten the safety and security of the people of Iraq.," Said Navy Lt. Cmdr. David Russell, MNF-I spokesman.

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Poland ends Iraq mission



by Amal Jayasinghe 36 minutes ago

DIWANIYAH, Iraq (AFP) - Poland formally ended its Iraq mission in the Shiite province of Diwaniyah on Saturday leaving US troops to take their place, as an Iraqi commander warned insurgency could re-emerge.

Poland's final contingent of 900 troops would return home by end of the month and the withdrawal process was already underway, a military official told journalists at the ceremony in this central Iraqi town.

Warsaw's Defence Minister Bogdan Klich attended the ceremony and parade, where troops from Armenia, Mongolia, Romania, Ukraine, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States also participated.

"We feel responsible for the future of Iraq. The completion of our mission does not mean end of our engagement," Klich said. "We hope to cooperate in Iraq's economic and financial areas."

Iraq's top military commander, General Babaker Zebari, thanked Polish troops for helping restore stability in the region, but warned that security gains should not be taken for granted.

"We should not sit back. We have to preserve the security and stability that we have achieved," Zebari said. "The terrorists have a way of re-activating themselves."

The multinational forces flag was lowered at Diwaniyah's Camp Echo and presented to Klich by the Polish commander in Iraq, Major General Andrzej Malinowski, an AFP correspondent reported.

Malinowski told reporters the 900 troops deployed in Diwaniyah and its surroundings will be pulled out by end of the month.

Klich said that "the current security situation remains stable and better," adding that Poland was happy to have been part of the US-led coalition.

"Solidarity among friends. That is why we participated in a difficult and dangerous mission in Iraq."

In its more than five years of military involvement in Iraq, Poland has lost 21 soldiers and seen 70 others wounded, according to a US military statement on Saturday.

Around 15,000 Polish soldiers had been deployed in Iraq since the 2003 war, it said.

"Today is a day of mixed emotions. I can't help but feel a bit of sadness," said the top US military commander in Iraq, General Raymond Odierno.

"I have known seven out of the 10 (Polish) commanders personally. You have been close and trusted friends."

Odierno told reporters that the timing of the Polish withdrawal was "good," as security in the region has improved.

"We will be sending some troops to this place but not as much as before," he added.

Odierno described the Polish contribution as "absolutely outstanding" and said the sacrifices of Polish lives will not be forgotten.

Heavily armed troops guarded the main stage from where the dignitaries watched the multinational forces together with Iraqi police and army parade at a football-field size ground barricaded by concrete blast walls.

US Apache attack helicopters and surveillance aircraft were seen over the base. Local politicians and tribal leaders also attended the ceremony.

After the formal Polish farewell, local Shiite lawmaker Sheikh Hussein al-Shalan said all foreign troops must leave, but after training Iraqi forces on how to deal with "terrorism and terrorists."

In July the Us-led forces handed over to the Iraqis security control of Diwaniyah, which has seen occasional outbursts of intense Shiite infighting.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who came to power in October 2007, pledged a quick withdrawal from Iraq during his election campaign.

With the withdrawal by Warsaw, the US-led coalition that invaded Iraq in 2003 has further shrunk.

In May 2003, two months after the US invasion, the occupying force was made up of 150,000 Americans and 23,000 other troops from 40 countries. Now, US numbers are around 144,000 while the coalition has shrunk to less than 10,000.

The coalition now is made up of Britain, Romania, El Salvador, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Albania, Mongolia, Czech Republic, Armenia, Macedonia, Tonga, Lithuania, Bosnia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Latvia and Moldova.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081004/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestpoland_081004143610;_ylt=AjNsWAs1061wU_YUXBaqybRX6GMA

Delegation of French Socialist Party arrives in Sulaimani


PUKmedia 04-10-2008 14:57:09


Responding to an invitation by the foreign affairs office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a delegation from the French Socialist Party arrived in Sulaimani today. The visit aims to hold training courses for the PUK cadres.

The delegation includes several senior officials in the party : Michel Tufan, the former MP and the General Director of Jan Joyes Institution, Tive Ato, the General Director of the Courses Department and Kareem Bakzad, the coordinator and the head of the Middle East relations and Iraq section in the aforementioned party.

The delegation was received by Shamal Abdel Wafaa, the head of PUK foreign affairs office.

The courses will be devoted to the methods of forming, working and the role of the modern parties (The democratic socialist parties as an example). They will also deal with other issues like democracy, political system, the institutional and governmental components.

It’s expected that the delegation to meet the members of PUK Politburo.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6786&Itemid=1

French Socialist Party delegation expresses concern about non-implementation of article 140


PUKmedia 04-10-2008 17:37:46

After their arrival in Sulaimani the delegation of the French Socialist Party visited the PUK politburo. They were received by head of the administration committee of PUK politburo, Kamal Fouad, and in attendance of PUK politburo active member, Omar Saaed Ali.

In a meeting Kamal Fouad briefed the delegation about the history of bilateral relations between PUK and French Socialist party, praising the late French President Francisco Mitra and his wife Daniel Mitra for their efforts in supporting the legitimate Kurdish question.

He also briefed them on the organizational body of PUK and basis for PUK political work, indicating the disputed issues between Baghdad and Erbil as well as obstacles to democratizing Iraq.

On their part, the delegation expressed their delight for good relations between both parties , hoping further promotion to these relations since both parties are members in the Socialist International (SI).

The delegation also expressed their delight for the progress which the Kurdistan region witnesses, expressing their concern about non-implementation of article 140 of the Iraqi permanent constitution, saying they want to know more clarifications and understandings about key factors which are related to the article during their stay in the Kurdistan region.

http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6787&Itemid=1

Turkish President to visit Iraq

Saturday, October 04, 2008 09:31 GMT


Turkish President Abdullah Gul announced that he will visit Iraq soon upon the official invitation of his counterpart Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and in support to this neighboring country which is going through a major turn point.

However, the Turkish President did not specify the date of his visit. Turkish newspapers affirmed that the invitation was made during a meeting between the Turkish and Iraqi Presidents in New York on the sidelines of their participation in the 63d session of the United Nations General Assembly.

http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-23080-Turkish-President-to-visit-Iraq.html

Election law to be ratified after Eid – presidency

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq

Saturday , 04 /10 /2008 Time 7:11:18


BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: The Presidency Board (PB) meeting in Ducan on Friday came out with an initial agreement to ratify the provincial election law after the Eidul-Fitr holiday, according to the chief of the Iraqi presidential cabinet on Saturday.

"The President and the two Vice Presidents expressed agreement in principle to ratify the provincial elections law," Nasser al-Aani said in a release that was posted by the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) official website.

"The ratification process should be through the official offices and after the end of Eid holiday (Muslims' three-day holiday when they break fasting right after Ramadan)," he added.

"Political blocs agree on the necessity of minorities' participation in all provinces, and there is a project to add an article in this regard," he noted.

http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=95379&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

Presidency says security deal figured high on Talabani-Negroponte talks

Sulaimaniya - Voices of Iraq

Saturday , 04 /10 /2008 Time 7:11:18



SULAIMANIYA / Aswat al-Iraq: The proposed Iraq-U.S. security agreement figured high on the agenda of talks between Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte during their meeting in the northern Iraq Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya on Saturday, a presidential cabinet source said.

"The meeting, which was attended by U.S. ambassador in Iraq Ryan Crocker, also dealt with current challenges in Iraq as well as other security and economic issues," said Barzan Othman, the presidential cabinet's media spokesman, in statements to Aswat al-Iraq.

Earlier on Saturday, Negroponte paid a visit to Kirkuk, where he met with the governor, the provincial council chief and representatives of other political groups in the city.

The U.S. delegation left for Arbil, the capital city of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, after its meeting with President Talabani, Othman said.

The Iraqi and U.S. sides are negotiating a long-term security agreement that should outline the legal nature of the U.S. army's presence in Iraqi territories by the end of this year, when the mandate given to the U.S. military in Iraq is scheduled to expire.

The modern city of Sulaimaniya, 364 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, was founded in 1748 by a Kurdish prince known as Ibrahim Pasha Baban who named it for his father Sulaiman Pasha. Since being founded as the capital of a powerful Kurdish principality it has grown to about 1,800,000 people.

Sulaimaniya, known as Zamwa prior to its founding, is the cultural center of the Sorani-speaking Kurds and an important economic centre for Iraqi Kurdistan.

http://www.aswataliraq.info/look/english/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=4&NrArticle=95381&NrIssue=2&NrSection=1

A press release of Mr. improve Khia member governing council, Mr. Negroponte's visit to Kirkuk

Turkmen News Service

The name of God the Merciful

A press release

A delegation including U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, accompanied by Mr. Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, Kirkuk province for the purpose of political parties to meet and consult with them and get acquainted with the conditions of the city, especially after the adoption of the law on election of provincial councils, and Mr. improve Khia member of Kirkuk's provincial council and responsible political office Of the Turkmen Islamic Union of Iraq, said the American delegation to meetings did not include representatives of all political actors involved and the Turkmen have a role, impact and influence in the political equation in Kirkuk, adding that he and Mr. Khia ensure the success of the mission of the delegation was supposed to consult and hear the views of all political actors and hope that Turkmenistan will not be repeated Thus, such as errors that would affect the understanding of the political landscape in Kirkuk and the right complexities and interventions wire.

Encyclopedia of Mesopotamia, 19:05 04 Shawal 1429 (04 October 2008)

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Oct 4, 2008

SOFA negotiations: Negroponte bypasses Maliki


First it is interesting to read that Donald Rumsfeld among the American delegation visits Sulaimaniya as reported on Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.

The American source refused to reveal further details about the visit and the newspaper said: “it is unknown if the Americans delegation will visit Baghdad or not”.

Contrary to what Al-Hakim’s TV channel report that Negroponte headed to Sulaimaniya to discuss Kirkuk crisis and the security progress. Aswat Al-Iraq report quotes Kurdish spokesman saying that the visit related to SOFA negotiations.

Strange is that Negroponte wants to discuss the security agreement with the Kurds and not with Al-Maliki who announced few days ago that he will observe the negotiations by himself or even to meet the negotiation team.

Trying to bypass Al-Maliki and the agreement? Iraqi MP AL-Najafi told Iraqpa:

The reason behind Negroponte’s visit is more pressure on the Iraqi government in order to sign the agreement, especially it comes days after statement made by Talabani on the possibility of lifting of protection for the Iraqi deposits in U.S. banks, about 50 billion dollar.

Al-Najafi statement agreed by Al-Sharqiya TV news headline saying: “Negroponte and Crocker put the final touches of SOFA with Talabani and Barzani.

http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2008/10/04/sofa-negotiations-negroponte-bypasses-maliki/

Iraq: Oil price windfall fuels $79 bn budget


04 October 2008

Iraq will spend nearly 79 billion dollars on reconstruction, public utilities and welfare in 2009, a 58-percent jump from this year, the government announced last week.
Higher oil prices have swollen earnings from petroleum by 65 percent and this source accounts for 93.6 percent of the country's budgeted income for next year, the government said in a statement.

Iraq plans capital spending of 18.6 billion dollars, up 43 percent, while recurring expenditure is forecast at 60 billion dollars, an increase of 63 percent from 2008, the statement said.

The government gave no details of expected revenue for next year, but said the projected fiscal deficit for 2009 was about 16 billion dollars. It was not immediately clear how the government proposed to bridge the deficit.

Washington said last month that Iraq was amassing a very large budget surplus as oil export revenues are soaring and it was spending little on reconstruction.

The US Government Accounting Office said the country had amassed a surplus of up to 79.3 billion dollars out of revenues of up to 182.2 billion dollars since 2005.

Little of that money was going to maintaining and rebuilding key civil infrastructure, according to the GAO report in August.

Over 2005-2007, the government spent only one percent of total expenditures to maintain Iraqi and US-funded investments such as buildings, water and electricity installations, and weapons, the US financial watchdog said.

The report noted that since March 2003, when the US forces invaded the country, Washington had budgeted 48 billion dollars for stabilization and rebuilding efforts in Iraq, and had committed about 42 billion dollars of that by June 2008.


http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20081004070951/Iraq%3A%20Oil%20price%20windfall%20fuels%20%2479%20bn%20budget%20

News

Iraqi-US meeting at the residence of the President of the Republic in Sulaymaniyah

October 4, 2008

Held at the residence of President Jalal Talabani, the city of Sulaymaniyah, today, Saturday, 4-10-2008, meeting with high-level U.S. delegation headed by John Negroponte, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, and discussed a number of files of political, security and economic.

The meeting was attended by the Iraqi side Talabani and Vice President Adel Mahdi and Tariq al-Hashimi and Professor Dr. Barham Ahmad Saleh Deputy Prime Minister, participated in the American side Negroponte and the U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and a file of Kirkuk and disputed areas Ambassador Tom Trzinski.

During discuss issues of political, economic and security for both sides to address the most important developments related to the political process and national reconciliation and efforts to the success of this process from all aspects and at all levels.

As discussed in the meeting the same strategy to the Convention between Iraq and the United States to serve and take into account the interests of the Iraqi people and safeguard national independence and preserve the gains achieved with the drive Iraq out of the mandate of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and ensure friendly relations and lasting friendship among Iraq And the United States.

In addition, it was stressed at the same meeting on the joint efforts of all to reflect the damage that would result from the two sides could not reach an agreement on the draft paragraphs of the upcoming security agreement.

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Iraq - Rice, Iraqi diplomat see progress on security deal 5-Oct-08 [12:6]
PNA-- NEW YORK/ Iraq and the United States are getting closer to completing an agreement that would govern the presence of U.S. troops in the country, the two nation's top diplomats said Saturday.


Less than a week after the resumption of negotiations on the deal in Baghdad, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said there was progress and they hoped for a conclusion soon.

"We are very close," Zebari said as he sat down for talks with Rice on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. "I think it is in the final stages. This will need the support of all the political leaders to get this agreement."

"So soon, I hope we will get some good news for both of us," he told reporters.

Rice offered a less enthusiastic appraisal. She said the talks were difficult and noted that the U.S. still was seeking assurances on legal protections for U.S. troops in Iraq.

"We're making good progress," she said. "This is an important agreement. It is also not easy when you are working with a sovereign government. We intend to fully respect the sovereignty of Iraq."

"We need certain protections for our forces so that we can continue the gains that we've been making, but we are also working in the context of a long-term strategic framework that will make us allies and friends for a long, long time to come," she said.

She also congratulated Zebari for improvements in security in Iraq, which she attributed largely to the increasing role Iraqi troops and police are taking.

Zebari said in an Associated Press interview Friday that his government hopes to sign the agreement before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 4 because the chance to complete it while President Bush is in office is narrowing.

The proposed agreement, under negotiation for most of this year, would replace the current U.N. mandate that expires Dec. 31. Any agreement must be ratified by the Iraqi parliament.

The main sticking points include Iraqi objections to immunity for U.S. troops and private contractors and demands for oversight over American forces during raids and detentions.

Zebari said if it's not possible to reach agreement by the election, the alternative is to go back to the U.N. Security Council to extend the mandate of the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq.

AFP

http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=86494

Iraq - Iraqi funds bargaining chip for SOFA? 5-Oct-08 [12:3]
PNA-- BAGHDAD/ Iranian state-run media reported Friday Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said U.S. officials threatened to seize Iraqi funds if a long-term security deal failed.


The Iranian Press TV pointed to statements in the Iraqi media that said Talabani, a Kurd, expressed concern over threats from Washington regarding the security deal set to replace the expiring U.N. mandate for Iraq.

"Washington threatened to use any means to seize Iraqi assets if we do not support the security pact," Talabani was quoted as saying.

Talabani said earlier this week Baghdad would prefer to sign the deal with Washington while U.S. President George Bush was still in office, but said several issues, including the activity of U.S. forces and immunity for foreign contractors, still were in the negotiating stages.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi satellite channel al-Sumaria reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had told his Iraqi counterpart Tehran was ready to talk with Washington without condition regarding the security situation in the region.

UPI

http://www.peyamner.com/details.aspx?l=4&id=86490

Egypt foreign minister arrives in Baghdad on surprise visit
Agencies
Published: October 05, 2008, 12:15

Baghdad: Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit arrived in Baghdad on Sunday in a surprise visit, state-run television reported.

Egypt’s energy minister also arrived in Baghdad, Iraqiya television said.

The trip is the latest sign that fellow Arab nations are restoring ties with Iraq after over five years of war.

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10249977.html

Three new parks inaugurated in Al Qut

Saturday, October 04, 2008 09:24 GMT


Director of Al Qut Municipality in Wassit Province Hussain Allawi said that today three parks were inaugurated in the city with a cost of 1.57 billion dollars in the context of Provinces development projects for the year 2008. He added that a lot of parks are under construction and others are being rehabilitated and all of them will be finished before winter.


http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Economics-News-Iraq/3-23079-Three-new-parks-inaugurated-in-Al-Qut.html

Iraq's Talabani Pledges to Restore Minorities Law: Exclusive

05 October 2008
NEW YORK -- In an exclusive interview to the Middle East Times at the sidelines of the opening of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani was upbeat about Iraq's future. Though a bit tired by recent surgery, Talabani also took time out from his schedule to express his views on a controversial decision taken by parliament on minorities.



"Iraq is doing well. Violence is down dramatically and people are returning home," the Iraqi president said.




Talabani, a Kurd, comes from the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq, a region in the middle of an economic boom. Separated from the rest of Iraq since the early 1990s, it has developed on its own and enjoyed a head start on the rest of the country which suffered under the stifling control of Saddam Hussein and his Baath party.




A source of controversy is a bill recently passed in the Iraqi parliament to abolish Article 50 of the Iraqi Provincial Election Law, which protects minorities by setting aside seats for them. It has spurred demonstrations throughout the world by various concerned groups including over 5,000 people who took to the streets in Iraq.




In a nation where more than 2 million people have been uprooted and are refugees inside and outside the country, minorities including Yazidis and Shabak, as well as the indigenous people of Iraq, the Assyrian Christians and others are deeply concerned at what they see as an Islamic drift in the country with growing influence from Iran and other more conservative regimes.




They see Article 50 which sets aside seats for each minority to protect them as a check on that drift.




"The law was just recently passed," Talabani said. "It is not consistent with the constitution nor with what we feel is needed for Iraq. We need to do all we can to help those who are currently displaced to return home. As president I have the right to amend what parliament passes and I can assure you that we will be amending the change in the law immediately."




He continued: "We need to protect our minorities and this change sends exactly the wrong message. We are doing all we can to help those displaced to return and recently have put together a plan to provide 10 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $8,500) to all who return as well as help in building a home and starting business for all."




In an earlier statement Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari expressed the same sentiments by promising monthly payments to all refugees from the ballooning Iraqi Oil Fund as well as recognition for an Assyrian province in the homeland of the indigenous Assyrian Christians in northern Iraq.




"We need to get a message to the Assyrians and others that now is the time to come home. Whatever they need we will do for them," Talabani said.




One Assyrian Christian representative at the event said on condition of anonymity that Article 50 was critical for the future of Iraq and that a provision should be passed by parliament in which, for example, Assyrians should be given 10 seats. At the last count - during the regime of former President Saddam Hussein - Assyrians numbered 2.5 million or 10 percent of Iraq's population, the representative said, whereas at present they "have only two seats out of 275."




The Iraqi president told the Middle East Times that he would fight parliament on the matter and win: "Tell them all that I will personally make sure that the article be restored and to contact me directly if there are any problems. We will do all that is needed to get all of our people home, in particular our minorities and indigenous Assyrians."




Although promises come easy to politicians, many Iraqis have high expectations that the assurances made by Talabani, Maliki and Zebari will be realized.




In response to this interviewer's skepticism that his words will end up just that, words, Talabani thundered with his deep voice, "I am president! Don't worry."

By Ken Joseph Jr.

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20081005091701/Iraq%27s%20Talabani%20Pledges%20to%20Restore%20Minorities%20Law%3A%20Exclusive/