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Iraq the Model on the prospects for democracy in the Middle East Omar at Iraq the Model sets out why he remains optimistic about the prospects for democracy in Iraq and across the region. His message: “Take a look at my country and learn from my people and have faith in yourselves because if you keep thinking with such negativity you will never get the change you want. If the people really want something they can achieve it and they will find many hands reaching out for them with support and advice.

The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) mourns the loss of the martyred trade unionist and member of the Oil and Gas Union, brother Ali Hassan Abd who was assassinated on Friday 18th February 2005 by terrorist extremists while returning with his children to his home in al Dorah District, close to the Al Dorah Oil Refinery in Baghdad.

Harry Barnes MP and Gary Kent met Hangaw Khan and Sdeeq Hassan of the Kurdistan Workers Syndicate Union (KWSU).

Abridged version of speech by Harry Barnes MP, LFIQ Joint President on 14th February. Everyone here is interested in assisting Iraqi unions but there are many in the labour movement who don’t even know that there are trade unions in Iraq. We have to get this message across and increase action in their support.

Gary Kent examines the zig-zags of the SWP and corrects himself too The SWP’s report of the recent Stop the War conference quotes one union official as saying that some people who supported the war were now trying to use the issue of solidarity to justify the occupation.

Urmee Khan looks at recent exchanges on Iraq in Parliament Labour MP Harry Cohen has tabled a written question asking the Government the following: (1) has the Department undertaken research to assess whether cash payments to the poor and unemployed rise at a similar level as prices for food, in circumstances where cash payments have replaced food rationing; (a) what assessment he has made of whether this will happen in Iraq; (b) and if he will make a statement

Said Zuhair Al-Jazairy from the Iraqi Journalists’ Union fears the press freedoms gained since the fall of Saddam are under threat.

Labour MP Tom Cox has tabled a written question asking the Government the following: (1) what assessment his Department has made of how many people have returned to live permanently in Fallujah since the recent military action in the city; and if he will make a statement; (2) how many people living in Fallujah have access to water and electricity; (3) how many hospitals are open and treating patients in Fallujah; and if he will make a statement; (4) how many schools in Fallujah are open and are teaching pupils; and if he will make a statement; (5) what recent … Continue reading The state of Fallujah

Labour Leader Tony Blair told the party conference in Gateshead that “I learnt that on some issues, sometimes you just have to agree to disagree, like Iraq, though hopefully now, with 8 million people in Iraq coming out to vote, we can all agree, however we got here, we should stay as long as the Iraqis want us to help ensure democracy not terror determines their future.” LFIQ brings together people who took different sides on the war but we are determined to play a positive role in assisting post-war Iraq to rebuild itself and we believe that Iraqi unions … Continue reading Tony Blair’s remarks on Iraq today

Aaron Glantz of the IPS news agency examines the position of the Christian minority in Iraq, reporting that thousands of Christians have fled Arab parts of Iraq. One man is quoted as saying that “It’s not so bad for the men, because we can blend in with the Muslims. But the women, they don’t wear Islamic headscarves.”