The battle between Labour’s Oona King and George Galloway is one of the most keenly fought in this election. There are fears that his followers will be out in intimidating force on election day with a massive presence around voting stations. The local party would be grateful for your help on Thursday 5th May. Oona’s office is 0207 613 4749.
Haifa Zangana (Comment, April 22) accuses the multinational forces in Iraq of using a “modern form of napalm” against the people of Falluja, “a crime that has been met with silence not just by Tony Blair but also by Ann Clwyd, his human rights envoy”. In fact I raised the allegations with Foreign Office minister Elizabeth Symons, who told me in her February reply that “the reports are completely without foundation. Coalition forces have not used napalm – either during operations in Falluja, or at any other time.” It’s a pity Zangana ignores those Iraqis working with great courage to … Continue reading Ann Clwyd rebuts napalm charges in letter to the Guardian today
An Iraqi woman MP, Lameah Abed Khadouri al-Sakri, was shot nine times n the chest and head by a terrorist yesterday. She was an MP representing a secular party and was, according to the Times, ‘an advocate of women’s rights’ who was ‘known for here work with widows and orphans’. A former schools inspector, and a Shia Muslim, Ms al-Sakri may have been murdered as a woman by the radical Islamists, as a Shia by Sunni sectarians, or as an MP by the Ba’athists. As a democrat she will be honoured. (AJ)
An important new report, ‘Power-Sharing in Iraq’, written by David L. Phillips, a senior fellow and deputy director of the Council for Foreign Relations Center for Preventive Action, recommends a “federal system of governance that preserves Iraq as a unitary state, advances the aspirations of ethnic and sectarian groups, and is administratively viable. Federal Iraq states should control all affairs not explicitly assigned to the national government.” The report examines the ownership of Iraq’s energy wealth, disarming militias, the status of Kirkuk, individual and group rights, and the role of Islam in Iraqi governance. It also outlines roles for the … Continue reading Democratising Iraq (9) New Report calls for Federal Iraq
Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa has given his government’s agreement on the nomination of Mr. Kasim Abdul Baqi as a new Iraqi Ambassador to South Africa. The general elections in Iraq and the prospects of a new representative Iraqi government have paved the way for the South Africa government’s acceptance of the new Iraqi ambassador. (AJ)
Sami is an Iraqi exile who blogs at An Iraqi’s Thoughts. He asks us some questions.
Iraq’s national women’s football team will participate in the second Arab championship arranged by the Amman Club in Jordan. The first group consists of Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon, the Orthodox and Al-Jazeera, the second of Syria, Bahrain, Palestine, Amman Club and Jordan junior team. And no Uday Hussein on hand to torture the players who score own goals. (AJ)
The Iraqi higher education and scientific research ministry has announced a rapid rise in foreign language learning since the fall of Saddam. Azzaman newspaper reports the Minister as lamenting the disconnection of Iraq from the external world and celebrating the fact that today universities are expanding language departments to cope with demand. (AJ)
US Agency for International Sevelopment (USAID) works with the Interim Government of Iraq and NGO’s to reconstruct Iraq. To find out more about its work check out March 24 issue of Reconstruction News. (AJ)
The Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) reports that the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will continue support the reconstruction of Iraq.