Labour Friends of Iraq

George Galloway (These are Blair’s last days, May 3) refers to the “manipulated elections” in Iraq. I know the glorious “resistance” which he supports threatened to kill anyone who voted, but presumably that is not the manipulation he is thinking of. I notice too that he does not compare the recent elections with those in Iraq prior to 2003. Obviously no one was manipulating anything when his friend Saddam got 99% of the vote. What a pity those days are not still with us.
Prof Bob Borsley
University of Essex

Amman Center for Human Rights Studies received a proclamation from the National Society for Human Rights Advocacy in Iraq presenting the news of the disappearance of the Iraqi citizen Dr. Shakir Hassoun Al-Dujaily who holds Swedish citizenship after his arrival to Damascus Airport on Thursday 31/3/2005 where he came by the Swedish Airlines, flight number (SAS 79025).
His news was cut after calling his wife in Iraq on Thursday 31/3/2005 at 10:20pm where he informed her with his arrival to Damascus Airport. Thus, and in light of the above, Amman Center for Human Rights Studies calls upon all international and Arab organizations to question the Syrian Authorities and put their efforts towards revealing the destiny of Dr. Shakir Hassoun Al-Dujaily.
Please click on the following link to add your signature for solidarity with Dr. Shakir Al Dujaily. Send it to your friends and colleagues.

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 rebuild the country after the horrors of Saddam.
Ann Clwyd
Prime minister’s special envoy on human rights in Iraq

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 United States and the United Nations. The report is available to download as a PDF file from the CFR website. (AJ)

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.

Continue reading Reconstructing Iraq (7): An Iraqi’s Thoughts

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)