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News From Iraq January 24th 2007 Including Main Security Reports Translated And Summarised from Arabic

Security Reports Translated And Summarised from Arabic:

These are only the most important ones each of us is taking different sections. This is short but the best we can do tonight is to concentrate only on the big flashpoints. - Saba:

Karbala:

There have been armed clashes between 8th brigade green zone government police and fighters on the highway the betweenJarf al-Sakhr and Karbala the fighting took place early in the afteroon and lasted an hour.

markfromireland

The local reports on the attacked Husseiniyah 4 km west of Karbala have now been confirmed the 18 year old dead man died from the bullet injury to his head within ½ hour arrival in the hospital.

Mohammed Ibn Laith.

Baghdad:

Adnan Al Dulaimi’s house has been attacked using mortars. The AMS denunciation of the suppression operation now in progress in Haifa street is receiving wide and sympathetic attention. The outrage at the methods being used on an extremely densely populated area is not confined to the Sunni population . The operation started last night. Eyewitnesses have confirmed that artillery and airstrikes are being used. The AMS statement describes the operation as:

“a campaign of genocide and liquidation carried out by the joint forces of the government and the occupation.”

 American and green zone government troops have sealed the area, in particular the main escape routes the bridge to Bab al-Moazam and Haifa Street and the roads to  al-Karkh have been sealed. Civilians trying to flee using these cannot now escape. The Aswat al Iraq report ends with a fact well known to every Baghdadi. The buildings on the street itself are new. The buildings surrounding it are not. Any of those buildings hit either  by an American airstrike or artillery will be the scene of a large number of civilian deaths. The AMS statement truthfully points out that several of these buildings collapsed last night. The green zone government statement on this operation includes an instruction to civilians to stay in their homes in these already dangerously decayed buildings.

Saba and Mohammed Ibn Laith

Comment: There has been heavy fighting all day I can hear it from where I live I could see the smoke rising all during the day. It is 15 miniutes after midnight and this report is ready to be posted.

I bear witness that there is no God but God and Mohammed is his prophet.

Mohammed Ibn Laith

Also in Baghdad American invaders claiming yet again that they were after somebody with links to Al-Qaeda launched a raid. The invaders statement says they “a small explosive charge” to gain access. A 12 year old child died as a result. The American invaders say they “regret” this child’s death and that is not their fault.

Mohammed Ibn Laith

Iraq: Emergency aid for hospitals

Geneva/Baghdad (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided Kirkuk General Hospital with enough surgical and other medical supplies to treat 100 wounded persons today, one day after a truck packed with explosives killed 10 people and injured 42 others in the centre of the city.

Similar aid was provided yesterday for Al-Kindi Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, following one of the deadliest days in recent weeks. On 16 January, two car bombs killed some 70 people, mostly students from Al-Mustansiriya University. On the same day, dozens were also killed in different bombings and shootings. Al-Kindi Teaching Hospital received most of the injured and was in dire need of assistance.
“Civilians are considered by some as legitimate targets. This is an appalling fact, and it is unacceptable by any standard,” said Karl Mattli, head of the ICRC delegation in Iraq. “The massive influx of casualties is putting the Iraqi health-care system under considerable strain and the ICRC is doing its utmost to support it,” he added.
The conflict in Iraq continues to claim the lives of scores of civilians every day, notably in Baghdad. The ICRC provides emergency aid to victims whenever and wherever possible.

Source: ICRC report from Iraq Issued from ICRC Headquarters: Emergency aid for hospitals

markfromireland

Kirkuk

American invader forces raided a journalists home in Baiji and detained him. Hs fate and what he is accused are unknown.

Mohammed Ibn Laith

Basrah

The incidence and sophistication of attacks against British patrols in the south continues to rise. There was another one last night.

Iraq doubled the production of wheat and rice this year food imports and the importance of the routes through which they come are correspondingly reduced I expect convoy attacks to increase markedly.

markfromireland

Humanitarian Situation in Iraq

We are emphasising a story that certainly won’t get a lot of coverage elserwhere. The “unintended” effects of sanctions. At the time people like me were reporting this, we were called liars for our pains, when a good and brave woman who had worked tirelessly to try to alleviate some of the shortages of desperately needed cancer medication was murdered, the same people who said that the apalling death toll amongst Iraqi children was “worth it” were strangely silent. They remain silent now. Got herrenvolk complex much?

markfromireland, Saba, Mohammed Ibn Laith

 As posted above the Red Crescent are gradually resuming operations. The only description possible for this is to say that it is heroic.

A particular priority at present is to get desperately needed emergency supplies to the hospitals:

Study: U.N. sanctions affect children

NASHVILLE, Jan. 24 (UPI) — U.S. sanctions are being blamed for an increase in the death rate among Iraqi children treated for leukemia in Baghdad while U.N. sanctions were in place.

Dr. Haydar Frangoul of Vanderbilt University examined records of 670 children treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia at Baghdad’s Children’s Welfare Teaching Hospital between 1990, when sanctions went into effect, and 2002. The records documented missed doses of chemotherapy, as well as the reasons for missing it.

Patients who refused or discontinued therapy or were lost to follow up before the completion of therapy were excluded from the analysis.

The study found the overall five-year survival of children who received all of their doses of standard chemotherapy was significantly better — 81 percent — than those who missed doses due to sanction-caused shortages.

Frangoul collaborated with Drs. Salma Al-Hadad and Mazin Al-Jadiry, both pediatric oncologists at the University of Baghdad Children’s Hospital.

“I hope this study will add to other studies showing that there are unintended consequences to United Nations’ sanctions that are underappreciated,” said Frangoul.

He presented the study’s results last month in Orlando, Fla., during the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Source: United Press International - NewsTrack - Study: U.N. sanctions affect children

IRIN: Latest reports from Iraq

IRAQ: No end to violence in Saddam’s home province

BAGHDAD, 24 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - The home of Iraq’s deceased former president Saddam Hussein, Salah ad-Din province has been rocked by anti-US insurgency, assassinations and sectarian violence ever since US-led forces invaded the country in 2003.Full report

IRAQ: Red Crescent gradually resumes its work

BAGHDAD, 24 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - The Iraq Red Crescent is steadily resuming its work in Baghdad after it suspended its activities in the capital for more than three weeks following the kidnapping by militants of its staff members and volunteers on 17 December 2006.Full report

IRAQ: Rula Abdel-Kareem, Iraq “My fiancé dumped me after I lost my leg in an explosion”

BAGHDAD, 24 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - I’m a 20-year-old student of biology at the capital’s Mustansiriyah University. I was a victim in an explosion in Tayran Square, in central Baghdad, on 12 December 2006. In the incident I lost my left leg and sustained some injuries on my arms.Full report

IRAQ: Kirkuk’s time-bomb could explode at any time

BAGHDAD, 22 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - Long considered a microcosm of Iraq with its diversity of ethnic and religious groups, the oil-rich city of Kirkuk is now plagued by sectarian violence, insurgency and criminal attacks. As a result, tens of thousands of displaced people suffer.Full report

IRAQ: Lina Massufi, Iraq “I cannot stand the constant military raids in my home”

BAGHDAD, 22 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - My name is Lina Massufi. I’m a 32-year-old laboratory assistant who works 10 hours a day just to make enough money to raise my children. My life has been like hell over the past three months. US and Iraqi soldiers have raided my house more than 12 times. Full report

IRAQ: Kurdistan, low in violence but lacking services

ARBIL, 18 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - Unlike other parts of the country, the three-province autonomous northern region of Kurdistan is not the Iraq of roadside bombs and beheadings. It is relatively safe and well-protected by an experienced security force.Full report

IRAQ: Kareema Sabah, Iraq “I want to live for my three children”

BAGHDAD, 18 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - I’m a 35-year-old widow with a serious kidney problem. I can no longer stand the situation of our hospitals in Iraq. I’m tired of waiting for assistance.Full report

IRAQ: UN death figures paint a grim picture

BAGHDAD, 17 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - The Iraqi government must move fast to curb sectarian violence and establish the rule of law to prevent the deaths of more innocent civilians, said a United Nations senior official and an Iraqi analyst.Full report

IRAQ: Baghdad most violent province in Iraq

BAGHDAD, 17 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - More people have been killed in Baghdad province than in any of the other 17 provinces of Iraq since the US-led occupation of the country began in 2003. Sectarian violence, insurgency and general lawlessness has displaced hundreds of thousands of Baghdad residents and left few aid agencies on the ground to help.Full report

IRAQ: US air strikes isolate Baqubah villagers

BAQUBAH, 16 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - Hundreds of people have been trying to flee the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala, close to the Iraqi-Iranian border, following a recent offensive by US and Iraqi troops in the area. Although the offensive has ended, scores of families in rural villages were said to be hiding in their houses for fear that air strikes might start again.Full report

Reuters Alertnet First 10 only.

US Iraq envoy sees positive signs on militias
24 Jan 2007 19:16:13 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Alastair Macdonald BAGHDAD, Jan 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador praised Iraq’s prime minister for taking a “strong position” with fellow Shi’ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr and said on …  Full article

US Senate panel rejects Bush’s Iraq troop plan
24 Jan 2007 18:41:05 GMT
Source: Reuters
(adds quotes, details) WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday rejected President George W. Bush’s plan to add troops in Iraq, sending the measure to the full Senate for …  Full article

US Senate panel rejects Bush’s Iraq troop plan
24 Jan 2007 18:30:55 GMT
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday rejected President George W. Bush’s plan to add troops in Iraq, sending the measure to the full Senate for a vote expected next week …  Full article

U.S. Senate panel debates opposing troop increase
24 Jan 2007 17:52:55 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Includes anti-war protesters planning to converge on Washington) By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Brushing aside President George W. Bush’s plea to give his new war strategy a …  Full article

UNHCR urges help from global community as Palestinians flee Baghdad
24 Jan 2007 17:34:29 GMT
Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
The UN refugee agency on Wednesday urged the international community to aid Palestinians living in Iraq after 90 men, women and children fled Baghdad earlier in the day.  Full article

Bush jabs Shi’ite radicals, Iran turns to Arabs
24 Jan 2007 16:48:32 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds Iraqi reaction) By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent BEIRUT, Jan 24 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush has called Iranian-backed “Shi’ite extremists” as great a peril to …  Full article

US Senate panel debates rejection of troop increase
24 Jan 2007 16:39:47 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Corrects Hagel’s branch of service to Army from Marines in 13th paragraph) By Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Brushing aside President George W. Bush’s plea to give his new war …  Full article

US helicopters strike high-rises in Baghdad battle
24 Jan 2007 16:35:00 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Updates with U.S. soldier killed, edits) By Ross Colvin and Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD, Jan 24 (Reuters) - U.S. helicopters attacked gunmen holed up inside high-rise buildings in Baghdad on Wednesday …  Full article

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Jan 24
24 Jan 2007 16:26:26 GMT
Source: Reuters
Jan 24 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq as of 1600 GMT on Wednesday: * Asterisk denotes new or updated item. * BAGHDAD - U.S. and Iraqi troops clashed with gunmen in the …  Full article

FACTBOX-U.S. presidential hopefuls on Bush speech
24 Jan 2007 16:23:32 GMT
Source: Reuters
Jan 24 (Reuters) - Following are comments by some declared and potential 2008 U.S. presidential candidates on President George W. Bush’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday. Sen. Hillary …  Full article

Indexed under: Baghdad, Basrah, Children, IRIN, Journalists Attacked, Refugees, Women and Children