Mideastwire.com

TODAY’S DAILY BRIEFING

17-Mar-2006

Algeria

Politics

"...Revelations about the assassination of the repentant emir from El-Oued" (Liberte, Algeria)

The daily Liberte reported on March 16 that: "One week after the assassination in El-Oued of Abdelkrim Kaddouri, alias El-Kaaka, Abderezak El-Para's former right-hand man, the initial investigations by the security agencies have been able to determine the backers of this attack. According to the initial conclusions from the investigation that was conducted in El-Oued and Algiers, this former repentant "emir" was executed by a commando unit from the El-Feth El-Moubine Brigade on the express recommendations of Abdelmalek Droukdel, alias Abou Mossab Abdelouadoud, the current head of the Salafi Group for Call and Combat, helped in the execution of this by elements under the leadership of Abdelaali Yahyaoui, alias Younes, the 'emir' of the GSPC's 'Zone 5… (Read More)

Egypt

Society

“Russian women on the Israeli border trigger… parliamentary crisis” (Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia)

Women

In its March 17 edition, Al Watan, a government-influenced newspaper, reported that: “A new crisis was triggered at the Egyptian parliament after many MPs criticized the phenomenon of Russian women infiltrating Israel through the Egyptian border. The parliamentarians described the phenomenon as a human flesh trade that aims to turn the Egyptian territories into crossings for dubious purposes… (Read More)

Iran

Opinion

"War on terrorism, an excuse for dominating the world" (Jomhuri-ye Eslami, Iran)

The daily Jomhuri-ye Eslami wrote on March 14 that: "... An opinion poll carried out worldwide (in 35 different countries) shows that most people believe that America's military aggression against Iraq has not only failed to reduce the danger of terrorism, but on the contrary, it has also increased the potential for terrorist attacks in the world. The poll, which is done by the British Network (BBC), states, '60 per cent of the participants have affirmed that the war America waged in the aftermath of 11 September 2001 has in fact promoted the grounds for the growth of terrorism in the world.' In America, Britain, and Iraq, the three principal countries that are engaged in war, the number of people, who consider the growth of terrorism more exacerbated and graver than before has reached the figures of 55 per cent, 77 per cent, and 75 percent respectively… (Read More)

Politics

Governor of Esfahan: we are armed with the weapon of martyrdom (VoIRI, Iran)

The Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran TV reported on March 16 that: "Mr Bakhtiari, the governor-general of Esfahan, has said one of the main differences between our country's armed forces and those of other countries is their faith and piety. He added: The secret of the armed forces' success is their faith, and, on top of that, we are also armed with the weapon of martyrdom. Speaking at a joint morning ceremony of the province's Law Enforcement Force, Mr Bakhtiari added: The authority of the Law Enforcement Force focused on maintaining security as well as its members' kindness in dealing with the people and serving them have contributed towards creating concord, harmony and unison between the people and the force. Today, the Law Enforcement Force is a valuable asset which must be strengthened… (Read More)

Iraq

Business

British official in Basra to promote investment opportunities, oil sector (Al-Mada, Iraq)

The daily Al Mada reported on March 14 that: "Kim Howells, minister of state in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has said that the aim of his visit to Basra is to find investment opportunities in the gas and oil sectors. During his meeting with Jabbar al-Habibi, general manager of the South Oil Company, Howells said that Iraq was a wealthy country in the field of oil, noting that it had great experience as well as qualified cadres in implementing work related to oil projects… (Read More)

Politics

“Halabja residents destroy memorial of victim at anniversary of massacre" (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Unrest

Asharq Al Awsat, a pan-Arab newspaper, reported on March 17 that: “Kurdish officials were suspicious about the motives and the [instigators] behind the violent events that erupted in the Kurdish city of Halabja yesterday at the 18th annual anniversary of the bombardment of toxic gases in the city in 1988. Yesterday’s events resulted in the killing of a boy and the injury of between six and 11 people as well as the destruction of the memorial and the burning of its museum. Kurdish officials that Asharq Al Awsat [spoke with] expressed their understanding of the protests [regarding] the deficiency of basic services in the city but said that they found the events that occurred yesterday to be extremely strange indicating that local and foreign sides were behind the violence… (Read More)

IWPR IRAQI PRESS MONITOR - March 16, 2006 (Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Middle East)

Opinion: The Nobility of Iraqis… (Read More)

Sadr media rep: Iran-US talks do not serve Iraqi people (Al-Jazeera, Qatar)

In an interview with Shaykh Abd-al-Hadi al-Darraji, head of the media department in Martyr Al-Sadr Office in Iraq, and broadcast by Al Jazeera on March 16, Darraji said: "Regarding Al-Hakim's call and statements, we, Martyr Al-Sadr Office, believe that these statements are inappropriate for the situation in Iraq. Such statements might give clear indication that there is a real Iranian interference in Iraq, or that Iran might interfere in Iraq in the future. While respecting our neighbour Iran and our dear brothers there and rejecting the occupier's presence in Iraq, we reject any interference in the Iraqi affairs by neighbouring countries. We, Al-Sadr Trend, have some reservations over such statements and we reject any Arab or regional interference in the Iraqi affairs… (Read More)

"...[FM Zebari]: Other ministries interfere in Foreign Ministry's work..." (Az-Zaman, Iraq)

The daily Al-Zaman reported on March 11 that: "Iraq has witnessed bloody events recently, due to the bombing of the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali al-Hadi and the violence and attacks that followed on Sunni mosques in Baghdad and other cities, which raised fear of a civil war. In the midst of this incident, Arab foreign ministers held a conference to discuss the latest developments. Al-Zaman met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and held the following dialogue… (Read More)

"The horror of British diplomats in Basra" (Al-Mashriq, Iraq)

The daily Al Mashriq reported on March 13 that: "A British report on the lives of diplomats in the British consulate in Basra, located in one of the former regime's presidential palaces, revealed that the security situation remains a concern. BSN news network said that security concerns dominated the lives of diplomats in the British consulate, where heavily armed officials seek to represent British interests amid continuing armed insurgency… (Read More)

“Former Iraqi officers insist that Iran hit Halabja with chemical weapons” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

In its March 17 edition, Al Quds Al Arabi, an independent daily, reported that: “The demonstrators in Halabja (northeast Iraq) managed to take over the monument that was erected in memory of the chemical attack tragedy on the city of Halabja on March 16, 1988 that claimed the lives of 500 people [attacks against the Kurds during the Al Anfal ethnic cleansing campaign]. The police and the security forces opened fire on the demonstrators to keep them out, and three demonstrators were wounded… (Read More)

“'Ghost Man' in Abu Ghraib prison confirms his identity” (Al-Hayat, United Kingdom)

Al Hayat, a privately owned newspaper, reported in its March 17 issue about the recent developments on the issue of the identity of the ‘Ghost Man’ in Abu Ghraib. The newspaper wrote: “The identity of the ‘Ghost Man’, who appeared in the most notorious picture in the Abu Ghraib prison, is arousing wide controversy in the American media and [among] human rights activists: Is the ghost who appears in the picture with a black blanket covering his face while standing over a wooden crate with his hands roped with electric wires actually Ali Al Kaisi, whom Al Hayat met a short time after his release or another prisoner who was impersonated by Kaisi?… (Read More)

“U.K ambassador to Iraq: Iran arms terrorists, [poses] threat to stability” (Al-Hayat, United Kingdom)

USA Europe

Al Hayat, a privately owned newspaper, published in its March 17 issue an interview with the British ambassador to Iraq, William Beatty. The newspaper wrote: “The British ambassador to Iraq, William Beatty, accused Iran of ‘supporting the insurgent groups and the terrorists and providing them with weapons which constitutes a threat to the Iraqi government’ asserting that ‘the death squads really exist’ and that the investigations are ongoing to uncover them. He pointed out that his government hopes to withdraw more forces by the end of the year… (Read More)

Israel

Politics

Minister denies Khaddam's revelation of Syrian-Israeli contacts (Radio - Middle East, Middle East)

According to a report carried by Israeli radio on March 16: "Former Syrian Vice-President Abd-al-Halim Khaddam has said that in recent years, Israel and Syria held contacts on reaching a peace agreement with the mediation of MK Azmi Bisharah. In an interview to the Israeli Arabic-language newspaper Al-Sinnarah, the former vice-president said that Israeli intelligence had authorized Bisharah to hold the talks. He said that MK Bisharah met Dani Yatom while the latter served as former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Baraq's political-security chief of staff… (Read More)

Society

“Sudanese head towards death by crossing the Israeli border fence” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

In its March 17 edition, Al Quds Al Arabi, an independent newspaper, reported: “Have the Sudanese become prone to wandering on this Earth, seeking refuge for many different reasons? The answer to this question resides in the information that was revealed by security sources in the Israeli army, who assured that the security forces that are spread on the border between Egypt and the occupied territories have arrested five Sudanese men as they were trying to cross the border fence and have held them in detention camps, south of the occupied territories… (Read More)

Lebanon

Opinion

“Decision required in Damascus not in Beirut” (An-Nahar, Lebanon)

Ali Hamade wrote in An Nahar, an anti-Syrian daily, on March 16 that: “Despite the positive atmosphere that the dialoguers emerged from and the signs of understanding that they showed in their third round of the dialogue, we can safely say that the difficult and thorny subjects were avoided. The people who were thirsty for calmness [in the Lebanese arena] were compensated with a census on the Shebaa farms which was not the main problem- [which is] the Resistance’s weapons and its role- and an understanding of the Lebanese Syrian ‘Platonic’ relationship that brought back a text from the Taif agreement whic has not been applied for over 15 years… (Read More)

Politics

Al Manar reports on Hezbollah-Future movement contacts (Al-Manar, Lebanon)

The Hezbollah-backed Al Manar TV reported on March 10 that: "Hezbollah Secretary-General Hasan Nasrallah and Deputy Sa'd al-Hariri, head of the Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc, have agreed on the need to ensure the success of national dialogue, which will be resumed on Monday. This came during a visit Al-Hariri paid to the headquarters of Hezbollah's secretary-general last night. The meeting between Hezbollah Secretary-General Hasan Nasrallah and Deputy Sa'd al-Hariri, head of Al-Mustaqbal Bloc, acquires special importance after the suspension of the national dialogue, which is scheduled to be resumed on Monday. This comes amidst calls to the pro-government forces to adopt stands different from those of deputy Walid Jumblatt, which led to the collapse of the round table meetings… (Read More)

“Berri: Khartoum summit might be a Lebanese-Lebanese dialogue scene” (Al-Mustaqbal, Lebanon)

In its March 17 edition, Al Mustaqbal, a Hariri-owned newspaper, reported that: “Before resuming the third round of the National Dialogue meeting next Wednesday that will primarily address the issue of the presidency, President Emile Lahoud seized the opportunity yesterday, as he presided over the Cabinet session, to address another issue from the angle of evaluating the report of Serge Brammertz, the head of the International Investigation Commission: the issue of the four officers that are under arrest… (Read More)

“Israeli alertness on borders” (An-Nahar, Lebanon)

Military and Security

An Nahar, an anti-Syrian daily newspaper, reported on March 17 that: “The southern borders [of Lebanon] are still witnessing Israeli army alertness [with the army] reinforcing their sites with military fortifications, surveillance cameras [all] while a construction site continues near a settlement overlooking the [Lebanese town of] Kfarkila amid military security guards. Near Honein, the Israeli military increased their patrols and set up new poles that are equipped with surveillance cameras and communication devices. On the Lebanese side, international forces [UNIFiL] continues their patrols on the blue line to watch Israeli army movements… (Read More)

Middle East

Opinion

Columnist: Iran-US talks are an "insult" to Arabism (Al-Ra'y, Jordan)

Khalid Mahadin, of Al Ra'y, commented in his piece March 17 on the announcement by Iran that it will commence talks with the U.S. over the situation in Iraq. He said that The Iraqis, both Sunnis and Shiites, have always warned against Iran’s intervention in their affairs, and declared their loyalty to their country. “Iran’s declaration of its intention to hold talks with America over Iraq represents an insult not only to Iraq but to the Arab League and to all Arabism as well.” Such announcement also represents an insult to Iran’s claims that it its policies aim at preserving Islamic interests and not those of Iran. Iran makes bombastic claims day and night about the need to liberate every inch of occupied Palestinian and Arab land, yet it responds angrily when the GCC demands that it withdraws from the three islands belonging to the UAE that the Shah occupied in 1970, he said… (Read More)

“From another planet” - American calls to place Arab Gulf under UN custody (As-Safir, Lebanon)

USA Europe

Sateh Noureddine commented in the March 17 issue of As Safir, an independent newspaper, about the recent conference held in Abu Dhabi to discuss change in the Arab world. Noureddine wrote: “From outside the context of the eleventh annual conference of the Emirates Strategic Studies Institute, dedicated to the discussion of change in the Arab world, came the surprise of the American Democratic ex-senator Gary Hart to move the discussion elsewhere and to stir a loud Gulf debate which was interrupted only by the video conference with the Iraqi MP Adnan Al Bajeji from Baghdad. Senator Hart, the ex-candidate for the American presidency, was addressing the American public when he suggested a United Nations custody over the Arab Gulf region to guarantee its security and its oil flow and to prevent America from getting involved in what he described as a fourth, then fifth, Gulf War - so that it [the United States] does not remain in the eyes of the inhabitants of the region as an occupation or colonial force, thus reacquiring its image in the whole world which was distorted by the ruling right under the presidency of George Bush… (Read More)

“Occupation prolongs its stay by [inciting] strife” (As-Safir, Lebanon)

USA Europe

Talal Salman, editor in chief of As Safir, an independent newspaper, commented in the March 17 issue about the reasons behind the recent outburst of strife in the region of the Middle East. Salman wrote: “In a remarkable coincidence the military efforts of the Israeli occupation in Palestine and the military effort of the American occupation in Iraq are intensifying in order to destroy any chance for the emergence of what could be considered a ‘local authority’ that could be taken as a promise of independence even after a while… (Read More)

“A Matter of Trust?” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

USA Europe

Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban, a regular columnist in Asharq Al Awsat, an independent pan-Arab newspaper, wrote in the paper’s Arabic edition on March 13 that: “The only time President Bush spoke of India and Pakistan as equals is when he urged leaders of both countries to ‘resolve the issue between themselves’. The issue being Kashmir, an unresolved dispute left behind by the British occupation. In all other matters, Bush found them to be different: ‘two different countries, with different needs, and different history’. Acknowledging those differences was in the context of justifying the dissimilar American treatment of both countries regarding nuclear cooperation… (Read More)

Eyes & Ears: “Final Touches on the War Plan” (Al-Hayat, United Kingdom)

USA Europe

In an opinion piece, published on March 14 in the Arabic edition of Al Hayat, a privately owned newspaper, regular columnist Jihad el Khazen wrote: “The Bush administration has taken a decision to attack Iran and is now putting the final touches on the plan. By just substituting Iran for Iraq, we can follow the administration's work in the last several weeks and find ourselves with a case of déjà vu, back to the period immediately before the invasion of Iraq… (Read More)

Politics

“Egyptian political experts criticize America’s duplicity in the region” (Al-Jazeera, Qatar)

United Nations - USA Europe

Mahmoud Jomaa reported on Jazeera.net, the online version of Al Jazeera TV, on March 17 that: “Egyptian political experts criticized America’s double standards in dealing with the Middle East and the Arab world especially in its protection and cover of Israel… (Read More)

Palestine

Opinion

Columnist: Blair allowed Zionists to influence Foreign Office (Al-Hayat, United Kingdom)

Maher Othman, of Al Hayat, commented in his column March 17 on the Israeli attack against the Palestinian prison in Jericho, and the capture of six Palestinian leaders who were being held their under American and British monitors. He said that it is obvious that the attack was the result of a tripartite conspiracy that included Israel, Britain and the U.S. “The attack achieved its objective in boosting the chances of Kadima Party to win the coming general elections in Israel.” The writer argued that perhaps Hamas was mistaken in promising the release of the six Palestinian leaders from the Jericho jail. It was also a mistake to make such demand so persistently to Mahmoud Abbas at a time when the Palestinians were threatened with losing financial support if Hamas refuses to renounce violence… (Read More)

“Salutations from Jericho” (Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia)

In its March 17 edition, the government-influenced Al Watan newspaper published an editorial under the Ra’i Al Watan (Al Watan opinion) section. The article read: “The events that occurred last week in Jericho, at its security prison, were undoubtedly painful, refuted and condemned, but were no surprise to those that are following the events and analyzing them in a rational way. These events were preceded by a series of signals that came, one after the other, during a highly critical political situation in Israel and the West Bank. The Palestinian leaderships should’ve been aware that an event, as major as the raid on the Jericho prison, was being secretly plotted on the Israeli political scene… (Read More)

Politics

“Saadat recounts details of his arrest in Jericho prison” (Elaph, United Kingdom)

Bashar Draghmeh reported in Elaph, a pan-Arab website, on March 17 that: “ A lawyer from the al-Damir Human Rights organization was able to visit the General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmad Saadat, at his detention in al-Maskoubia investigation centre in Jerusalem. Saadat told the lawyer the details of his arrest and the siege of the Jericho prison. He confirmed that he was kidnapped by Israeli forces that took siege of the prison that belongs to the Palestinian authorities. The lawyer also met with [targeted] prisoner Ahed Abu Ghoulmi, military leader of Popular Front who was arrested with Saadat for the planning of the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi … (Read More)

“Opposition officials ask Abbas to resign following Jericho prison raid " (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Asharq Al Awsat, a pan-Arab newspaper, reported on March 17 that: “Palestinian officials including deputies in the Legislative Council called on the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to resign following Israel’s raid into Jericho prison and its detention of the general secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Ahmad Saadat, and five of his companions… (Read More)

Peru

Society

“Muslims in Peru bury their dead in ‘Christian’ graves” (Al-Arabiya.net, Middle East)

Religion

In its March 17 edition, Al Arabiya.net, the online version of Al Arabiya TV, reported that: “… Regarding the state of Muslims in Peru, their worries and hopes, the head of the Islamic Association in Lima, Professor Dameen Awad, told Al Arabiya.net that: ‘I have come to this country from Palestine in 1970 and found that many Arab brothers have come before me to Peru, most of whom were from Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. The real presence of Muslims here started in 1920…’… (Read More)

Sudan

Politics

“African Union announces ‘road map’ for Darfur crisis” (Asharq al-Awsat, United Kingdom)

Ismaiil Adam reported in Asharq Al Awsat, a pan-Arab newspaper on March 17 that: “Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, head of the African Union delegation in Khartoum, announced the [formation] of a ‘road map’ that the United States, African Union, the government and armed movements formulated to solve the crisis in Darfur. The African official described the current security situation in Darfur as witnessing security tensions especially in the south and west of the region. This description [of the Darfur situation] comes a day after Yan Brunik, special representative for the UN secretary General in Khartoum, described the situation with similar words… (Read More)

Yemen

Politics

“…Washington & Sanaa accused of collaborating on human rights violations” (Al-Quds al-Arabi, United Kingdom)

Human Rights - USA Europe

In its March 17 edition, Al Quds Al Arabi, an independent newspaper, reported that: “The section related to Yemen in the US Department of State's report on human rights has raised a lot of controversy in the Yemeni political milieu. The politicians accuse the US administration, in collaboration with the Yemeni government, of committing many human rights violations in Yemen, and considered what was published in the American report about Yemen far less serious than what is happening in reality. Yemeni politicians from different political affiliations mentioned that the American report was lacking and inaccurate and failed to mention many violations that occurred in Yemen last year. They also accused the US administration of partnering with the Yemeni authorities in committing many of the violations that occurred in Yemen since the September 11 events and until today… (Read More)