WELCOME TO IWPR'S IRAQI PRESS MONITOR, No. 271, June 27, 2005

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IRAQI PRESS MONITOR, 27 Jun 05

ARABS, MUSLIMS ASKED TO OPPOSE EXPORTATION OF TERROR

(Al-Mashriq) - Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), has called on Arabs and Muslims to oppose those exporting terrorism to Iraq, warning that a sectarian conflict will ignite a war in the whole region. He added that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Saddam Hussein's henchmen have revealed their ugly faces by targeting innocent people. They have lately announced their plan to ignite a sectarian war in Iraq after they were hiding behind the fake motto of resisting the occupation, Hakim said. The escalation of their attacks comes after Iraq had big achievements and after the success of security forces in breaking the insurgents' bones in operations conducted against them. (Al-Mashriq is published daily by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investments.)

PRESSURE TO POSTPONE SADDAM TRIAL

(Al-Mada) - Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi has said there are states and forces putting pressure on Iraqi authorities to postpone the trial of Saddam Hussein, but he declined to give further details. During a meeting, he urged leaders and Sheikhs of Shatra to stand bravely by a speedy trial. As for the drafting of the constitution, he said there is no argument about the federalism and the constitution will be completed within weeks. (Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada Institution for Media, Culture, and Arts.)

TALABANI: CONSTITUTION MUST INCLUDE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

(Al-Ittihad) - President Jalal Talabani has affirmed the necessity to aid the democratic forces in Iraq, saying that the permanent constitution must include the application of democracy, which will solve all the problems of Iraq. After the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime, democracy played a big part in the political life and it is applied perfectly in Kurdistan region, he said. He emphasized eliminating administrative and financial corruption in government offices. He added that he allowed the Board of Audit to supervise the expenditures of the presidential office.

(Al-Ittihad is published daily by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.)

INTERIOR MINISTRY QUESTIONS TOP OFFICIALS

(Baghdad) - An Interior Ministry official told al-Mustakbal Radio that the ministry has started questioning high-ranking officers of the ministry, accusing them of collaborating with the armed groups. The questioning concentrates on how the special plans of the ministry reach the armed groups and how the detailed information about them has completely disappeared. The concerned officers are still under detention and questioning. (Baghdad is a daily newspaper issued by the Iraqi National Accord.)

JA'AFARI WELCOMES PRIVATIZATION OF COMPANIES

(Al-Mutamar) - Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'afari has opened the door wide to the privatization of companies and projects in Iraq. Iraqi interests should be given first priority in providing investment chances to foreign companies, he said. He added that the constitution will satisfy all the spectrums of Iraq and there will be no violation to the minorities' rights. He assured that Islam is going to be part of the legislation of the new Iraq. (Al-Mutamar is issued daily by the Iraqi National Congress.)

DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS ISLAND STILL BELONGS TO IRAQ

(Addustour) - In a press release, the Defense Ministry has denied reports of media outlets about Iran controlling the Iraqi Um al-Rasas island of Shatt al-Arab. The statement assured that it is an Iraqi island and still under Iraqi control. The denial of the Defense Ministry comes after the announcement of Hazim al-Shalan, the ex-defense minister of Iyad Allawi's government, that Iran is controlling the island. (Addustour is an independent daily published by former journalist Basim

al-Sheikh.)

GENERAL INSPECTORS TO REVIEW GRADUATION CERTIFICATES

(Al-Iraq al-Yoom) - The Integrity Commission has directed the offices of the general inspectors in all the ministries to review employee graduation certificates to be sure they are legal and not counterfeited. The directive applies to employees hired after the fall of the regime in April 2003. The commission added that employees with fake certificates will be accused of the crime of forgery and will face the law. (Al-Iraq al-Yoom is a weekly newspaper issued by Isra Shakir.)

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Iraqi Press Monitor is published by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting, an independent non-profit organisation supporting regional media and democratic change.

IWPR cannot vouch for the accuracy of the reports. The views represented by the stories are not necessarily those of IWPR.