Gorilla’s Guides

September 1st and 2nd 2007 Reports From Irak Part 1 (September 1st)

Baghdad

See also Anti-Mahdi Army Drive Underway immediately preceding posting - Mohammed

The American forces raided the offices of al-Sabah newspaper in the Cairo neighbourhood of central Baghdad and took away seven security guards. They had raided the newspaper 10 days previously. The newspaper Sabah is semi-official and is one of the institutions of the Iraki Media Network, set up in Baghdad after the American forces invaded Irak in April 2003.

The new American Embassy Regional Central Directorate for the Subjugation of all sand niggers will open this month. The Saudis are also hunting for suitable premises.

Danish courts have no jurisdiction — Chief prosecutor

Irak is the only jurisdiction with the right to try Abdel Karim Nizar Al-Khazraji, chief of staff of the Iraki army during the Anfal campaign, who is accused of charges of crimes against humanity and genocide according to the the chief prosecutor of the Criminal Court. (The Danish courts have issued an arrest warrant for him via Interpol on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide.) (English language report here)

Refugees in Sweden:

There are between 80 thousand to 120 thousand Iraki refugees in Sweden.

Surge Report from the BBC world service:

The BBC World Service is monitoring the “surge” and it effects, week by week, by looking at casualty figures, the pressure on hospitals and quality of life for ordinary civilians.

The graphics and analysis in the reports are based on figures from the US and Iraki authorities, Baghdad’s hospitals and three families from different neighbourhoods in the capital :

• Surge report 29 August
• Surge report 22 August
• Surge report 15 August
• Surge report 1 August
• Surge report 25 July
• Surge report 18 July
• Surge report 11 July
• Surge report 4 July

Babil

Two series of raids in Hillah carried out with reference to the attacks on the Holy Places in Karbala have resulted in the detention of 29 persons. The raids were in the north and and northwest part of Hillah. The first raid was on the home of an elder of the al-Daoum tribe in the north part of the city and 20 were detained on suspicion of involvement in the events of the al-Ziyara al-Shabaniyah in Karbala. The other 9 were detained in the second raid in Abu Ulwan (10 km north) and a store of weapons seized.

Basrah

One of the representatives of Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani was shot dead in front of the Mosque in which he was the Imam and Preacher yesterday after night prayers. Sayed Salim al-Battat had finished prayers at the al-Urwah Mosque in al-Farsi when he was accosted and shot dead in the street.

Diyalah

Briefing: The shrine of Ahmed Ibn Imam al-Kadhim is a popular pilgrimage destination especially for Isma’ili devotees. Renovations of the shrine were completed last week. The bombing of 8 Muharram 1427 also destroyed several houses close to the shrine and the families had just returned to them these are also severely damaged again. Despite the construction of a security fence the site is easy to penetrate.

The shrine of Ahmed Ibn Imam al-Kadhim in Baqubah the son of the seventy Shi’te Imam was blown up on Saturday morning by an armed group consisting of somewhere between 20-30 men. Who planted charges throughout the building and held of locals until they exploded. The shrine was destroyed completely. This is the third time in as many years that the shrine has been bombed. The first bombing was on 7 Rabi` Al-Awwa 1426 (2005-04-16) and the second on 8 Muharram 1427 (2006-02-06). Aswat Al Iraq’s report points out that that according to a recent report, 70 shrines in Diyalah have been destroyed since the American and British led invasion of Irak in 2003.

Forty fighters were detained and large quantities of weapons were seized in the al-Mekheyisa district included were taken assault rifles, car bombs ready to be exploded a manufacturing workshop for bombs and RPGs. It is a farming district of Muqdadiyah which is 45 km northeast of Baqubah which in turn lies at a distance of 57 km north-east of Baghdad. It is believed the detained persons were affiliates of an al-Qaeda inspired group.

Dhi Qar

During coordination meeting organised by trades unions and guilds against the “oil law” that the Americans are trying to force on the people of Irak. Ahmed Abdel Sattar described it as a law to steal the bread from the mouths of the current and future generation of Irakis. The meeting was held to coordinate the strikes and protests against the law and was attended by trade union organisers from all over Irak. The Basrah delegation described the violent and oppressive tactics being used against opponents of the law ordered by green zone government oil minister Shahistrani and said that despite these the campaign against the legalised theft by the Americans of Irak’s resources would continue and would escalate. Coordination measures for the national and international campaign were discussed and agreed the conference was attended by more than 100 delegates from the unions.

Karbala

Karbala’s governor has denied media reports that there is renewed fighting in the city. He explained media reports of fighting in the city as misreporting of the raids being conducted in the city.

Ninewa

Six people were injured by the explosion of a car bomb driven by a suicide bomber that targeted a patrol of the green zone government army in west Mosul this morning. 2 were soldiers 4 were civilians.

Reports from Mosul Observer:

Saturday 1 September 2007

• The assassination of Mr Khairuldeen Al-Hamdani, Member of Al-Mosul District Council.
  - Unknown gunmen attacked today Saturday 1 September Khairuldeen Al-0Hamdani inside the Fifth Tuneel killing him instantly.
• A car bomb in Mosul AL-Jadidia
  A car bomb driven by a suicide bomber exploded today on an Iraqi Army patrol unit wounding 6 people among whome 2 of the patrol unit personnel.
• An explosive device in Al-Rashidiya region of Mosul
  An explosive device targeted another Army unit in Al-Rashidiya district in Mosul killed members of the unit.

Mosul Observer الراصد الموصلي

Mohammed Al-Hamadani

Indexed under: Babil (Governorate), Basrah, Briefings, Dhi Qar (Governorate), Diyala, Hilla, Jaish al-Mahdi, Karbala, Mahdi, Mahdi Army, Militia, Mosul, Ninawa (Governorate)