Wednesday, December 20, 2006

"My Worst Experience Was Making The Coffin Of My Own Brother, Ahmed."

Aswat al Iraq | Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - Main security developments in Iraq on Wednesday:

Security developments in Iraq on Wednesday Baghdad- The U.S. army said in a statement on Wednesday six persons suspected of association to Qaida in Iraq armed group were arrested in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. One of the arrested was believed to be a leader of Qaida in Iraq and had connection to the killing of scores of civilians including women and children, the statement added. Iraq-Security (Highlights) Security developments in Iraq on Wednesday Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - Main security developments in Iraq on Wednesday:

  1. Baghdad- The U.S. army said in a statement on Wednesday six persons suspected of association to Qaida in Iraq armed group were arrested in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. One of the arrested was believed to be a leader of Qaida in Iraq and had connection to the killing of scores of civilians including women and children, the statement added.
  2. Basra- The spokesman for the Multi-National forces in southern Iraq said on Wednesday British patrols engaged in clashes with unknown gunmen in three different parts in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The spokesman said "there were no casualties among the British forces."
  3. Baghdad- U.S. and Iraqi forces launched in the early hours of Wednesday an intensive house-to-house search campaign in al-Adl neighborhood in western Baghdad, an eyewitness said.
  4. Baghdad- The Iraqi police said on Wednesday unknown gunmen positioned a fake checkpoint on the main road to al-Lij village, nearly 25 km southeast of Baghdad, and forced farmers from the village at gunpoint to unknown destination.
  5. Mosul- The Iraqi police said on Wednesday a police station was attacked by unknown gunmen while mortar shells fell on a hospital in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul but no casualties were reported.
  6. Mosul- An Iraqi security source said on Wednesday an explosive charge went off at a U.S. vehicle patrol in al-Wahda neighborhood in eastern Mosul. The source said "the blast left no casualties among the Iraqi civilians but it was impossible to know if there were casualties among the U.S. soldiers as the U.S. forces immediately cordoned off the area."
  7. Baghdad- At least five people were killed and 11 others were wounded on Wednesday morning when a car bomb went off in northern Baghdad, a police source said.
  8. Baghdad- A suicide attacker detonated on Wednesday morning an explosives-rigged car at a police checkpoint in downtown Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 31 others, a police source said.

Violence claims some 1,200 people in November - morgue official : Aswat al Iraq:

Baghdad-Morgue Violence claims some 1,200 people in November - morgue official By Wathiq Ismael

Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - Baghdad forensic morgue has received in November about 1,200 bodies of people killed in actions of violence, an Iraqi medical official said on Wednesday.

"The number of bodies received at the forensic morgue un Baghdad during November is about 1,200 bodies," the official, who declined to be named, told the independent news agency voices of Iraq (VOI).

November toll is down from October when the morgue received 1,600 bodies, he said. "Most of the bodies bore marks of torture and had gun shots," the official added. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has reported that some 100 people get killed in Iraq everyday and most of them in Baghdad where sectarian violence and killings are at their worst. The morgues toll does not represent the true and final toll of those killed in Baghdad as families sometimes collect the bodies of the victims from the hospitals before the bodies are sent to the morgue. Blasts and car bombings are the main reason behind the rising death toll in Baghdad as violence rages unabated in the Iraqi capital. Tens of bodies are also found dumped in the streets of Baghdad almost daily.

Najaf-Handover | Aswat al Iraq:

Najaf-Handover - Security responsibility handed over to Iraqi army in Najaf By Haider al-Kaabi Najaf, Dec 20, (VOI) -The Iraqi forces received in an official ceremony held on Wednesday the security responsibility from the Multi-National forces in the Shiite sacred city of Najaf. "The transfer of the security responsibility to the Iraqi civil administration in Najaf came third after the handover occurred in the southern Iraqi provinces of Samawa and Thi-Qar," the Iraqi national security adviser Dr. Muafaq al-Rubai'i said at the ceremony. The national security advisor, who represented the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the ceremony, said "this step will be followed by the hand over of the security responsibility in the three Iraq's Kurdistan region to the Iraqi civil administration there." The three provinces within Kurdistan region are Sulaimaniyah, Duhuk, and Arbil. "The Iraqi government makes every effort to accelerate the completion of the Iraqi forces' preparedness in terms of training and arms supply," said Dr. Rubai'i and added " a decision was recently made by the government as to re-use the former Iraqi army officers in the new formation of the Iraqi forces." The national security adviser also called upon Iraq's neighboring countries to stop interfering in Iraq's internal affairs and these countries should consider such intervention as Rubai'i put it "a red line and violation to the Iraqi national security." "The government's move to strengthen the capabilities of the Iraqi forces comes within its comprehensive plan to disband militias and limit the possession of arms in the hand of the government." The ceremony was attended by some commanders from the Multi-National forces and Iraqi officials, tribal chiefs and political parties' representatives. Najaf is 180 km southwest of Baghdad.

Baghdad-Kidnapping | Aswat al Iraq:

Baghdad-Kidnapping - Gunmen kidnap six farmers near Baghdad By Monther Hamad Zahi Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - The Iraqi police said unknown gunmen kidnapped six farmers in the early hours of Wednesday from a village near Baghdad. "Unknown gunmen positioned a fake checkpoint on the main road to al-Lij village, nearly 25 km southeast of Baghdad, and forced farmers from the village at gunpoint to unknown destination," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). The hijacked farmers were riding in two cars when the incident occurred, he added. "The kidnappers left the farmers' behind after they were forced to unknown destination," the source said.

Polish premier visits Iraq, meets Maliki : Aswat al Iraq:

Iraq-Poland Polish premier visits Iraq, meets Maliki By Adel Fakher Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - The Polish Prime minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski arrived on Wednesday in Baghdad and met with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki, a media source at Iraqi Prime Minister office said. "Talks have already started between the Iraqi Prime Minister and the visiting Premier Kaczynski," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). Both premiers are expected to give a joint news conference, he added.

Maliki- Kaczynski | Aswat al Iraq:

Maliki- Kaczynski Maliki: political, economic issues discussed with Kaczynski Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) -Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Wednesday he discussed with his Polish counterpart Jaroslaw Kaczynski issues of common interests for both countries as well as prospects of Polish companies investment in Iraq. "we discussed a spectrum of issues of common interests including the political process in Iraq," Maliki said in a joint news conference with Kaczynski in Baghdad. The Iraqi Premier who stressed that Iraq would stand by the friendly states that supported it said "we discussed possible investment opportunities for Polish companies in Iraq especially in the safe parts of the country." "The meeting was positive and dealt with political and economic issues," Maliki added. The Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski who arrived earlier in Baghdad said his country wanted to continue its support to the people of Iraq. "Iraq is in need of more solidarity to accelerate rebuilding the country," said Kaczynski at the joint news conference. Asked about the future of the Polish military presence within the Multi-National forces in Iraq, Kaczynski replied "our future presence in Iraq depends on more than one factor but after all we are here to help stability in Iraq." Poland has military presence in Iraq within the Multi-National Forces. The Polish troops are situated in the southern Iraqi provinces of Wassit and Diwaniya.

Saddam's Anfal trial session resumes in Baghdad : Aswat al Iraq:

Saddam-Anfal-Session Saddam's Anfal trial session resumes in Baghdad Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - The trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and six of his aides on Anti-Kurds Anfal case resumed on Wednesday in Baghdad with all defendants present. Wednesday's session was chaired by chief judge Mohammed al-Uraibi al-Khalifah. The 32nd trial session continued for the third day running to show documents believed to be sent by the Iraqi military intelligence service to the presidency office in 1987 suggesting the use of the chemical weapons against Kurdish villages near the border with Iran. In the two previous sessions, Prosecutor Munqith al-Firaon showed 38 documents and letters sent from the Iraqi military intelligence service to the presidency office in 1987 suggesting that chemical weapons were used to bomb villages where Kurdish Peshmerga ( local Kurdish fighters) were active. Al-Firaon said in the trial 32nd session "although the duty of the military intelligence service was to collect military information as the defendant Saber al-Douri (the then chief of the military intelligence service) said, these documents prove that the service also suggested launching precise air strikes against what they referred to in these documents as ( the agents of Iran) in reference to the Iraqi Kurds." In November, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death in a separate trial after being convicted of ordering the killing of 148 people after an attempt on his life in 1982. Saddam Hussein and his aides, including his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, alias Chemical Ali, are being tried on charges of genocide on the case of the 1988 Anfal campaign, in which the Iraqi army gassed 182,000 Kurds and destroyed 4,000 villages. Also among the involved aides were Saber Abdul-Aziz Al-Douri, the chief of military intelligence during the campaign, Taher Tawfiq al-Aani, the former governor of Mosul, Sultan Hashim Ahmed, the former minister of defense, Hussein al-Tikriti, the former member in the armed forces' general command, and Farhan Mutlak al-Jobouri, a director in the former military intelligence department.

Gunmen attack police station, hospital in Mosul : Aswat al Iraq:

Mosul-Attack Gunmen attack police station, hospital in Mosul By Ibrahim Zannun Mosul, Dec 20, (VOI) - The Iraqi police said on Wednesday a police station was attacked by unknown gunmen while mortar shells fell on a hospital in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. "Unknown gunmen in two cars attacked today morning with small arms al-Nabi Younus police station in eastern Mosul," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). Meanwhile, mortar shells fell on the police station shortly after the gunmen's attack, he added. "Several mortar rounds also slammed today morning onto al-Salam public hospital in al-Wahda neighborhood in eastern Mosul," the source said. The two attacks on the police station and the hospital did not result in casualties, he added. Earlier, an explosive charge went off at a U.S. vehicle patrol in al-Wahda neighborhood. The source said "the blast left no casualties among the Iraqi civilians but it was impossible to know if there were casualties among the U.S. soldiers as the U.S. forces immediately cordoned off the area."

U.S. defense secretary arrives in Baghdad : Aswat al Iraq:

Baghdad-Visit (urgent) U.S. defense secretary arrives in Baghdad By Wathiq Ismael Baghdad, Dec20, (VOI) - The U.S. defense secretary Robert Gates arrived on Wednesday in an unannounced visit to Baghdad, official sources said. On Monday , Gates said in his address during a sworn-in ceremony at the Pentagon he will visit Iraq soon.

16 casualties as car bomb explodes in northern Baghdad : Aswat al Iraq:

Baghdad-Blast 16 casualties as car bomb explodes in northern Baghdad By Adel Fakher Baghdad, Dec20, (VOI) - At least five people were killed and 11 others were wounded on Wednesday morning when a car bomb went off in northern Baghdad, a police source said. "A car bomb parked in al-Maghrib street in northern Baghdad went off today morning killing five civilians and wounding 11 others," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). The Iraqi security forces immediately cordoned off the area while ambulances rushed to take the wounded to a nearby hospital, the source added.

Rubai'i arrives in Najaf, meets Sistani : Aswat al Iraq:

Najaf-Visit Rubai'i arrives in Najaf, meets Sistani By Haider al-Kaabi Najaf, Dec 20, (VOI) - The Iraqi national security adviser Muafaq al-Rabai'i arrived on Wednesday to the holy city of Najaf and met with the top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Rubai'i's visit to Najaf , 180 km southeast of Baghdad, came as a ceremony expected today in Najaf to hand over the security responsibility in the province from the Multi-National forces to the Iraqi army. The national security adviser met upon his arrival to Najaf with Gran Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in his house in the old city of Najaf. On Tuesday, the civil administration in Najaf announced a curfew effective as of midnight on Tuesday until 06:00 p.m. on Wednesday as a parade of Iraqi forces will take place in preparation for handover of security responsibility. Last week, spokesman for the Iraqi government said the Iraqi army will take over security in the Shiite-sacred city of Najaf on December 20 from the Multi-National forces. Najaf will be the third Iraqi province to receive the security responsibility from the Multi-National forces after the southern Iraqi provinces of Samawa and Thi-Qar.

Suicide bombing leaves 42 casualties in Baghdad : Aswat al Iraq:

children injured suicide bombing baghdad1) Child being treated for burns in Baghdad's al Kindi hospital, she was injured in the suicide car attack.2) This lady and her granddaughter were hurt in the same bombing.

Baghdad-Bombing Suicide bombing leaves 42 casualties in Baghdad By Wathiq Ismael Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - A suicide attacker detonated on Wednesday morning an explosives-rigged car at a police checkpoint in downtown Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 31 others, a police source said. "A suicide bomber detonated in early morning of Wednesday an explosives-rigged car at a police checkpoint in Jadiriyah area, central Baghdad, killing 11 people and wounding 31 others, including policemen," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI). An eyewitness said " there were college students among the casualties as the blast occurred near Baghdad university campus."

Four Iraqi pilgrims die on Saudi borders in tough conditions : Aswat al Iraq:

Pilgrims-Deaths Four Iraqi pilgrims die on Saudi borders in tough conditions By Dergham Mohammed Baghdad, Dec 19, (VOI) - Four Iraqis, part of some 2,500 pilgrims who had been stranded for days on the border with Saudi Arabia, have died, a member of the higher Hajj committee said on Tuesday. The pilgrim, on their way to Mecca for the annual Moslem pilgrimage, have been held at the border area of Arar with Saudi Arabia for five days, Zahid al-Bayyati told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone. "(The stranded pilgrims) have been facing tough living conditions because of the cold and lack of food and sufficient blankets," he added Al-Bayyati attributed the congestion to problems carrying the pilgrims by air, forcing the committee to switch many of them to land travel. Saudi authorities had been notified that the number of pilgrims traveling by land would be higher than the 13,000 originally agreed but the total would still be the same as the approved quota of 25,000 pilgrims, he added. Saudi approval was still being awaited, resulting in the border congestion.

Iraq-Currency | Aswat al Iraq:

Dollar demand up in Iraqi central bank auction Baghdad, Dec 20, (VOI) - Demand for U.S. dollars was up to $22.230 million in Iraq's Central Bank auction on Wednesday compared with $10.605 million in the previous day. The central bank covered all bids from banks at $1.270 million in cash and $20.960 million in transfers abroad, all at 1,373 dinars to the dollar, down seven dinars from yesterday. Nine banks taking part in the auction offered to sell $2.500 million which the bank bought at 1,371 dinars.

IRAQ: Muhammad Abdel Kader, Iraq, "I never made so many coffins a day"

© Afif Sarhan/IRIN

Muhammad Abdel Kader makes around 20 coffins a day.

BAGHDAD, 20 Dec 2006 (IRIN) - "My name is Muhammad Abdel Kader. I am 36 years old and live in the Ejidida neighbourhood of Baghdad with my parents, wife and only son. I have lived in Baghdad all my life. I have been making coffins since I was 24 to help with the family income.

I work non-stop, 12 hours a day, six days a week. I have never made so many coffins a day in my life. I have to make as many coffins as I can to meet demand in al-Qarah Cemetery.

Before the war, we were making about two or maximum three coffins a day for people who had died from diseases or car accidents. But today we make at least 20 a day for victims of the violence.

For me, this is good business because the more people I bury the more income I get. I usually get US $10 per burial. But I can't be inhuman and say that I don't care because the suffering of the families sometimes makes me think about changing my profession so that I don't ever have to see such depressing scenes.

We coffin makers are in so much demand these days. My job is essential to the country because of the dozens of people who are killed daily and if I don't make coffins, there will be more chaos.

I remember a day, some four months ago, when I and my colleague had to make 50 coffins. Soon there will be no more places here in the cemetery to bury so many bodies.

Some of the dead have been killed by militias or insurgents or in bomb explosions. Others have been killed by gangsters for money or in senseless sectarian violence. My worst experience was making the coffin of my own brother, Ahmed. He was a 33-year-old cabinet maker with two children. I had to help burying him. He was killed in a bomb explosion and fate had it that I was the one working in the cemetery on that day. Sometimes you don't even have time to cry for the loss of your relative.

After burying my brother, I had to help make coffins for 13 other people who had died on the same day.

My brother's death was a tragedy for my family. We were only two brothers helping our parents because my father lost his leg in the 1991 Gulf War and a month earlier my uncle had been killed by insurgents inside his home - but thank God I didn't have to bury him as it was my day off.

It is very sad to see Iraq like this today. I hope that my children one day will live in a better country without violence but in a country filled with happiness and dignity." as/ar/ed

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 12/19/2006 | Roundup of violence in Iraq - 19 December:

By Mohammed al Awsy McClatchy Newspapers The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Mohammed al Awsy in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It's posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy's Washington Bureau.

  • Baghdad . -- at 8 o'clock this morning an IED exploded in al zafaraniah area southern Baghdad, 6 civilians were injured.
  • -- at 9 o'clock this morning 4 employees of the ministry of industry were taking the salaries from al zuiah bank in karada area back to the ministry when unknown gunmen driving 4 vehicles stopped their car near abdul majeed private hospital and force them out from their car and took the car with one billion and two hundred million dinar.
  • -- at 1:30 this afternoon the head of doctors department at al alwia hospital was kidnapped from inside the hospital by unknown gunmen.
  • -- the actor MITASHAR AL SUDAMI was found dead today on haifa street, he as kidnapped yesterday.
  • -- today 53 bodies were found in Baghdad, some were handcuffed and tortured. 3 bodies were found in sadr city, 2 kamaliyah, 1 hussainiyah, 1 talbiyah, 1 aour, 5 dora, 4 kadhumiah, 4 hurriyah, 2 adil, 6 amil, 3 bayaa, 2 saidiyah, 2 risalah, 3 abu atsheer, 3 jihad, 1 mansour, 4 shoala, 5 ghazaliyah,and 1 yarmouk .
  • DIYALA province . -- according to a security source from muqdadia area 45km east of baqouba, terrorists assassinated a member of the timim tribe and his son as ther were traveling in their car at barwana village .
  • -- according to a medical source from diyala health directorate, the Iraqi police found 8 dead bodies in al tahreer area south of baqouba and in the mafraq and gatoon areas west of baqouba. one women and one military soldier were among the bodies.
  • -- according to an Iraqi military source from the fifth division in diyala province, iraqi army and unknown gunmen clashed after an IED exploded and killed 2 iraqi military officers. 5 gunmen were killed and a big number of weapons was confiscated.
  • -- according to a police source from baqouba police, 2 policemen were killed when their patrol was attacked by gunmen in al Mustafa area in baqouba. the same source said that 3 children were killed and 8 were injured when a number of mortars fell in al lualua area west of baqouba.

IRAQ: 32 : Journalists killed in 2006:

  1. Atwar Bahjat, Al-Arabiya, February 23, 2006, Samarra
  2. Adnan Khairallah, Wasan Productions and Al-Arabiya, February 23, 2006, Samarra
  3. Khaled Mahmoud al-Falahi, Wasan Productions and Al-Arabiya, February 23, 2006, Samarra
  4. Munsuf Abdallah al-Khaldi, Baghdad TV, March 7, 2006, Baghdad
  5. Amjad Hameed, Al-Iraqiya, March 11, 2006, Baghdad
  6. Muhsin Khudhair, Alef Ba, March 13, 2006, Baghdad
  7. Kamal Manahi Anbar, freelance, March 26, 2006, Baghdad
  8. So'oud Muzahim al-Shoumari, Al-Baghdadia, April 4, 2006, Baghdad
  9. Laith al-Dulaimi, Al-Nahrain, May 8, 2006, south of Baghdad
  10. James Brolan, CBS, May 29, 2006, Baghdad
  11. Paul Douglas, CBS, May 29, 2006, Baghdad
  12. Ali Jaafar, Al-Iraqiya, May 31, 2006, Baghdad
  13. Ibrahim Seneid, Al-Bashara, June 13, 2006, Fallujah
  14. Adel Naji al-Mansouri, Al-Alam, July 29, 2006, Baghdad
  15. Riyad Muhammad Ali, Talafar al-Yawm, July 30, 2006, Mosul
  16. Mohammad Abbas Mohammad, Al-Bayinnah Al-Jadida, August 7, 2006, Baghdad
  17. Ismail Amin Ali, freelance, August 7, 2006, Baghdad
  18. Abdel Karim al-Rubai, Al-Sabah, September 9, 2006, Baghdad
  19. Safa Isma'il Enad, freelance, September 13, 2006, Baghdad
  20. Ahmed Riyadh al-Karbouli, Baghdad TV, September 18, 2006, Ramadi
  21. Hussein Ali, Al-Shaabiya, October 12, 2006, Baghdad
  22. Abdul-Rahim Nasrallah al-Shimari, Al-Shaabiya, October 12, 2006, Baghdad
  23. Noufel al-Shimari, Al-Shaabiya, October 12, 2006, Baghdad
  24. Thaker al-Shouwili, Al-Shaabiya, October 12, 2006, Baghdad
  25. Ahmad Sha'ban, Al-Shaabiya, October 12, 2006, Baghdad
  26. Saed Mahdi Shlash, Rayat al-Arab, October 26, 2006, Baghdad
  27. Naqshin Hamma Rashid, Atyaf (Iraqi Media Network), October 29, 2006, Baghdad
  28. Muhammad al-Ban, Al-Sharqiya, November 13, 2006, Mosul
  29. Luma al-Karkhi, Al-Dustour, November 15, 2006, Baqubah
  30. Nabil Ibrahim al-Dulaimi, Radio Dijla, December 4, 2006, Baghdad
  31. Aswan Ahmed Lutfallah, Associated Press Television News, December 12, 2006, Mosul
  32. Mahmoud Za'al, Baghdad TV, January 25, 2006, Ramadi

ALERTNET HEADLINES

Iraqi soldiers eat frogs, rabbit at handover ceremony 20 Dec 2006 16:27:06 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds details on equipment, quotes) By Claudia Parsons NAJAF, Iraq, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Iraqi soldiers bit the heads off frogs and ate the heart of a rabbit as signs of courage on Wednesday at a ... Full article
Top US Mideast commander to retire in early 2007 20 Dec 2006 16:24:14 GMT Source: Reuters (recasts, adds details) By Jim Wolf WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid, who commands U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan as head of the Central Command, plans to retire ... Full article
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Bush vows "new course" as Gates visits Iraq 20 Dec 2006 15:57:45 GMT Source: Reuters (Recasts with Bush) By Kristin Roberts BAGHDAD, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush pledged on Wednesday to chart "a new course" in Iraq as new Secretary of Defense Robert ... Full article
Bush: looking at all options on Iraq, more troops 20 Dec 2006 15:23:12 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he was reviewing all options on Iraq, including sending more troops. "I haven't made up my mind yet about more troops,& ... Full article
Iraq deadliest 2006 media dateline - watchdog 20 Dec 2006 15:00:13 GMT Source: Reuters By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Iraq was by far the deadliest country for journalists in 2006, with most of the 32 killed there targeted by insurgents, the U.S.-based Committee to ... Full article
IRAQ: Muhammad Abdel Kader, Iraq, "I never made so many coffins a day" 20 Dec 2006 14:58:50 GMT Source: IRIN Muhammad Abdel Kader is a 36-year-old coffin maker from Baghdad. While he is doing better business than ever before, because of the daily deadly violence, he hopes to live to see a peaceful Iraq. Full article
UPDATE1-Top US Mideast commander to retire early in 2007 20 Dec 2006 14:44:20 GMT Source: Reuters (Adds details) WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, plans to retire early next year, the U.S. Central Command said on ... Full article
FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Dec 20 20 Dec 2006 14:42:01 GMT Source: Reuters Dec 20 (Reuters) - Following are security and other developments in Iraq as of 1300 GMT on Wednesday: * denotes new or updated item. *BAGHDAD - Gunmen killed university professor Muntathar ... Full article
Bush to make statement on Iraq, military strength 20 Dec 2006 12:41:23 GMT Source: Reuters WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush will hold a news conference on Wednesday at 10 a.m./1500 GMT and will make an opening statement on Iraq, the White House said. Bush will ... Full article
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posted by erdla at Wednesday, December 20, 2006