ABUSE

Iraq 'abuse victims' interviewed :-

The Independent reports (April 24th): Investigators examining claims that British troops committed abuses in Iraq have begun interviewing the alleged victims.

The Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) started taking statements last month from the first of more than 150 Iraqis who say they suffered ill-treatment at the hands of UK forces after the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iraq-abuse-victims-intervi%0A%0Aewed-2274312.html

Appeals court revives Blackwater case :-

AP reports (April 23rd): A US appeals court has resurrected the case against four Blackwater Worldwide guards involved in a 2007 shooting in a Baghdad public square that killed 17 Iraqis.

A federal trial judge in Washington, Ricardo Urbina, threw out the case on New Year's Eve 2009 after he ruled that the US Justice Department mishandled evidence and violated the guards' constitutional rights.

A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals ruled today that Judge Urbina wrongly interpreted the law. It ordered that he reconsider whether there was tainted evidence against four of the five defendants: former US Marines Evan Liberty, Donald Ball and Dustin Heard; and Army veteran Paul Slough.

 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/appeals-court-revives-black%0A%0Awater-case/story-fn3dxity-1226043615663

Legislature demands investigation about existence of secret prisons :-

Aswat al-Iraq reports (April 23rd): The Legislature of Iraq’s National Coalition, Jawad al-Hasnawi, has demanded on Saturday the opening of an investigation about the presence of ‘secret prisons’ in Iraq, calling on the Justice Ministry to observe all prisons, including those that are under the military bodies.

 http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=142135&l=1

Iraqi interpreters seek punishment of contractor they say sexually harassed them :-

Washington Post reports (April 22nd): Because of the lingering dangers for Iraqis who allied themselves with the Americans, the State Department created a special visa to allow interpreters and other workers into the United States. For most of the women, the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) became a lifeline.

But applying for the visa meant winning the approval of Christopher J. Kirchmeier, a contractor in charge of security badges and clearances on a base inside Baghdad’s Green Zone. Kirchmeier, then 26, sexually harassed at least two of the women he was charged with vetting, according to several former co-workers and the women. His alleged conduct was a violation of L-3’s ethics code, which says “physical conduct of a sexual nature is inappropriate in the work place and may be unlawful.” He also punished those who rebuffed his advances or who complained about his behavior by seizing their security badges and sabotaging their visa applications, according to the former co-workers.

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iraqi-interpreters-seek-punishment-of-cont%0A%0Aractor-they-say-sexually-harassed-them/2011/03/24/AFQOfSPE_print.html


PROTESTS

Iraq: Widening Crackdown on Protests :-

Human Rights Watch reports (April 21st): Kurdistan authorities should end their widening crackdown on peaceful protests in northern Iraq, Human Rights Watch said. The authorities should hold accountable those responsible for attacking protesters and journalists in Arbil and Sulaimaniya since April 17, 2011, including opening fire on demonstrators and beating them severely.

Human Rights Watch also called on Iraqi authorities in Baghdad to investigate the detention and torture of a protester, Alaa Nabil, and to charge or release more than two dozen activists held in a prison in Baghdad's Old Muthanna Airport. Central government and Kurdistan Regional Government authorities should revoke their recent bans on unlicensed demonstrations in Sulaimaniya province and on street protests in Baghdad.

 http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/21/iraq-widening-crackdown-protests

Ban on Baghdad street protests angers Iraqis :-

Reuters report (April 21st): A government ban on protests on the streets of the capital has led some Iraqis to question their leaders' commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

A government edict, restricting rallies in Baghdad to its two main sports stadiums, is being seen as unconstitutional and has raised questions over the government's ability to meet protesters' demands.

 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/21/us-iraq-politics-idUSTRE73K3SW201104%0A%0A21

Iraq tensions rise as U.S. withdrawal nears :-

CNN reports (April 22nd): Nearly 6,000 protesters flooded the centre of the Iraqi city of Mosul, defying a curfew imposed by military authorities seeking to control tensions tied to the looming withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

The demonstrators demanded a rejection of any extension of the American military presence beyond the end of 2011. Although the U.S. combat mission in Iraq officially ended last year, roughly 50,000 American troops are expected to remain in the country until the end of the year to train, assist and advise Iraqi troops.

 http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/22/iraq.u.s..demonstrations/index.h%0A%0Atml

98 injured in protests in Iraq's Kurdistan region :-

M&C report (April 19th): At least 98 people have been injured in clashes in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region between security forces and protesters, medical sources said.

The injured included both demonstrators and members of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, sources added.

Clashes erupted in Sulaimaniya city, as hundreds of Kurdish demonstrators gathered in the city's central square to push their demands for political reforms and greater freedoms.

 http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1633944.php/98-%0A%0Ainjured-in-protests-in-Iraq-s-Kurdistan-region

1 dead, 44 injured as Iraqi police disperse anti-US rally :-

M&C reports (April 22nd): At least one protester was killed and 44 injured when security forces fired live ammunition to disperse hundreds of protesters gathered to rally against the US presence in Iraq, according to medical sources.

Nabil al-Khayat, head of the Mosul general hospital, said he received the body of a 23-year-old man, who was shot in the head. At least 44 injured were hospitalized at the hospital including 13 tribal leaders, al-Khayat said.

'Many of those injured are in critical condition, due to severe bleeding. Also, the hospital did not receive medical supplies needed for them due to the curfew imposed in the city,' al-Khayat said.

 http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1634716.php/1-d%0A%0Aead-44-injured-as-Iraqi-police-disperse-anti-US-rally

Iraqi Kurd demo fatalities rise to 10 :-

AFP report (April 23rd): A 28-year-old Kurdish protester died of gunshot wounds, becoming the tenth person killed in more than two months of rallies in Iraq's northern autonomous region, a doctor said.

"Hardi Farukh, who was wounded by a bullet to the head during demonstrations on April 18 in Sulaimaniyah, died this morning," said Hawar Naqshabandi, the director of the emergency hospital in Iraqi Kurdistan's second-biggest city of Sulaimaniyah.

 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j67i-_8LULqhqdmY6t13973stQE%0A%0Ag?docId=CNG.1162cc65f46ade8c93d4c3d8b3d59307.361

Nonviolent Demonstrations End and Military Occupation Begins in Suleimaniya Iraq :-

Michele Naar-Obed reports for Common Dreams (April 23rd): Today marks the fourth day since Azadi (Freedom) Square in Suleimaniya Iraq was violently overthrown by military forces following 62 days of primarily nonviolent protests against corruption by the two ruling parties, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) within the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

On April 18, the stage from which daily speeches at the demonstration were made was burnt to the ground. Over 1000 demonstrators and many pedestrians caught up in the square trying to flee the tear gas were shot at with live ammunition and rubber bullets, tear gassed, beaten, arrested, and threatened.

Since Tuesday, April 19, 2011 the city of Suleimaniya has been occupied by well over 10,000 armed soldiers. Azadi Square and the surrounding streets and alleys are filled with soldiers and rings of soldiers are spread out throughout much of the city. The markets close to Azadi Square are open to citizens but people must keep walking and if anyone appears to group together and approach the square, they are immediately subject to beating by clubs and arrest.

 http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/23-4

Sit-in demo by Falluja lawyers demanding U.S. troops departure :-

Aswat al-Iraq reports (April 21st): Lawyers from Falluja city have announced a sit-in demonstration on Thursday, demanding the departure of the American forces from Iraq and the release of detainees, who were not convicted.

“Hundreds of Falluja Lawyers have organized a sit-in demonstration at the headquarters of the Lawyers Syndicate, demanding the departure of the U.S. forces from Iraq and the release of innocent detainees from prisons, where they spent several years of their lives without trial,” Lawyer Mohammed al-Mohammady told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

 http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=142109&l=1

Iraq , 15 April: The Friday Of The Free :-

Dirk Adriaensens reports for Countercurrents.org (April 15th): Here's Asma Al Haidari's comments on today's protests. “Men, women, and children, and Christians who are speaking out about the ‘government's’ criminality against them – it was amazing and enthralling.

There were large demonstrations in Basra , all over Anbar province and and Babil as well – in Diwaniya they were threatened by the security forces that they would all be detained. I also heard a tribal chief from Tel'laafer say that 10 large vehicles were on their way to Mosul when they were stopped by the notorious general Ghannam and told why do you want to go to Mosul – they are all Sunnis and terrorists and you are Shi'is!”

 http://www.countercurrents.org/adriaensens150411.htm

Iraqis rally against extending US troop presence :-

Reuters report (April 24th): Thousands of Iraqis rallied in the northern city of Mosul in one of the biggest protests yet against any extension of the U.S. military presence in Iraq.

On Sunday, around 5,000 people, including provincial council members and tribal leaders, rallied in the main square against extending the U.S. troops presence beyond the year-end deadline.

 http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/iraqis-rally-against-extending-us-troops-pr%0A%0Aesence/

Iraqi protests met with deadly force :-

Al Jazeera TV reports (April 26th): Security forces opened fire on protestors in Mosul city's Ahrar Square. In light of the events, the Ninawa provincial council suspended its official duties in the province for one day in protest at the security forces' attack on Mosul demonstrators.

 http://www.linktv.org/scripts/episode_transcript.php?episode=mosaic20110426

Iraqi Army force surrounds Mosul’s al-Ahrar square :-

Aswat al-Iraq reports (April 25th): An Iraqi Army force surrounded al-Ahrar (Liberals) Square in central Mosul, to prevent demonstrators from reaching the square that witnessed a sit-in demonstration over the past few days, a Ninewa security source said.

 http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=142161&l=1

Activists claim Iraqi agents torturing, intimidating protesters :-

The National reports (April 28th): Demonstrators in Iraq are being tortured and intimidated by the security services into stopping anti-government protests, political activists say.

In recent weeks, those organising public rallies claim to have been targeted in a campaign of repression by security units, carrying out illegal arrests and abusive interrogations.

Among the allegations made by civil-rights activists are that government forces have beaten, shocked with electrical devices and fabricated criminal evidence against protesters involved in peaceful street rallies.

 http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/activists-claim-iraqi-agents-torturin%0A%0Ag-intimidating-protesters


DAILY LIFE

Iraqi lawmakers approve $400M payment to Americans :-

AP report (April 30th): Two Iraqi lawmakers say parliament has approved a $400 million settlement to Americans who claim they were abused by Saddam Hussein. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Cabinet approved the compensation plan in September after Baghdad and Washington reached an agreement to end years of legal battles by U.S. citizens.

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42824702/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

Stop the presses, literally in Iraq :-

AL-Jazeera reports (April 23rd): Attacks by Iraqi forces on freedom of the press, in the form of harassment, detention, and assaults on individual journalists, raids of radio stations, the offices of newspapers and press freedom groups have shown the dark side of Maliki's regime.

Maliki's US allies, however, have turned a blind eye to the violence and repression, with the top spokesman for the US military in Iraq praising the same Iraqi units which eyewitnesses have identified as key players in the crackdown while ignoring the outrages attributed to them.

In addition to providing training to these units, the US military is currently focused on upgrading the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces, including the creation a national intelligence and operations centre and more sophisticated use and understanding of social media, which some fear may further increase state repression.

 http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/04/2011415181326266737.html

Arrest warrants issued against 11 senior officials on corruption charges :-

Azzaman reports (April 20th): Iraqi courts have issued arrest warrants against 11 officials among them a minister, deputy ministers, senior army officers and governors and high-ranking personalities, according to the anti-corruption commission in the Iraqi parliament.

Bahaa al-Araji, the commission’s head, stopped short of identifying the officials but he claimed that the charges involved embezzlement of billions of dollars.

 http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news%5C2011-04-20%5Ckurd.htm

Iraq is a US colony ruled by an Islamic regime, Saadi Youssof :-

Al-Sumaria reports (April 20th): Renowned Iraqi poet Saadi Youssof said he doesn’t feel he belongs to Iraq anymore and added that Iraq is currently a US colony ruled by an Islamic regime. “I don’t feel anymore that Iraq is my country. I used to remember Iraq a free and independent country and not a colony or an occupied territory, Youssof said.

 http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-63222-Iraq-is-a-US-colony-ruled-by-an-I%0A%0Aslamic-regime,-Saadi-Youssof.html


CORPORATE

Secret memos expose link between oil firms and invasion of Iraq :-

The Independent reports (April 19th): Plans to exploit Iraq's oil reserves were discussed by government ministers and the world's largest oil companies the year before Britain took a leading role in invading Iraq, government documents show.

The documents were not offered as evidence in the ongoing Chilcot Inquiry into the UK's involvement in the Iraq war. In March 2003, just before Britain went to war, Shell denounced reports that it had held talks with Downing Street about Iraqi oil as "highly inaccurate". BP denied that it had any "strategic interest" in Iraq, while Tony Blair described "the oil conspiracy theory" as "the most absurd".
But documents from October and November the previous year paint a very different picture.

Five months before the March 2003 invasion, Baroness Symons, then the Trade Minister, told BP that the Government believed British energy firms should be given a share of Iraq's enormous oil and gas reserves as a reward for Tony Blair's military commitment to US plans for regime change.

 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/secret-memos-expose-link-between%0A%0A-oil-firms-and-invasion-of-iraq-2269610.html


MILITARY NEWS

Iraq urged to decide on US troop presence :-

Al-Jazeera reports (April 22nd): The chairman of the US military's joint chiefs of staff has said that Iraq must decide "very soon" if it needs American forces to stay beyond a planned departure at the end of this year.

Admiral Michael Mullen is the latest US official to visit Baghdad in the run-up to the upcoming pullout, with the same message that Iraq must make an urgent decision on troops.
Over 15,000 U.S. servicemen to remain in Iraq beyond 2011 deadline

 http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142216590156594.html

Xinhua reports (April 26th): The Iraqi government is preparing to accept the presence of more than 15,000 U.S. servicemen in Iraq to protect the U.S. interests after the deadline of U.S. troops' pullout by the end of 2011, an Iraqi newspaper reported.

It also said that thousands of employees working for foreign security firms will stay in the country to protect the U.S. embassy staff, American civil contractors, engineers and investors.

 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-04/26/c_13846834.htm


UNREPORTED AFGHANISTAN

NATO-led forces kill Taliban, civilians in Ghazni :-

PAN reports (April 26th): Three Taliban fighters and two civilians were killed in a joint operation by Afghan and NATO-led soldiers in the southern province of Ghazni, officials said.

 http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/04/26/nato-led-forces-kill-taliban-civilians-gh%0A%0Aazni