Thread: Archive Latest News - Dinar Think Tank - 27/08/08 - 15/01/09

US 'may plot assassination of Al Maliki'

Americans, increasingly resenting recent moves by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, could seek to topple or even assassinate him, says a secret report by a Kurdish political party, which is part of the national government.

The report, which Gulf News has seen, says Al Maliki does not want to see any US soldier in Iraq after 2011 and he preferred strong political, economic and military relations with the Americans but not the presence and influence of the US military in his country.

The latest US resentment stem from Al Maliki's strong stance in the current talks to reach a strategic security agreement between the two countries, the report said.

"Al Maliki has started to undermine the influence of those in the Iraqi military and security commanders who are classified as proteges of the Americans. This has raised concerns in the US military command in Baghdad. The freezing of the powers of the Iraqi Army's chief of staff, Babakir Zebari, is the first indication of this trend," the report said.

According to the report, the US suspects Al Maliki of getting closer to Iran in order to launch a broad military operation in Basra, Al Sadr City in Baghdad and Maysan province, in preparation for a complete withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

The report said the statement of Shiite leader Moqtada Al Sadr about converting most of the Mahdi Army into a social and cultural organisation, named Al Mumahidun, is part of the Iranian game.

According to the report, the US is weighing three options.

The first is to topple Al Maliki in parliament and bring vice-president and leader of the Islamic Supreme Council, Adel Abdul Mahdi, into power. Mahdi, according to the US, is more pragmatic than Al Maliki. He enjoys the support of Shiite leader Abdul Aziz Al Hakim. But this option may not hold as Al Hakim and Mahdi are both considered close to Iran as well.

The second option is to pressure Al Maliki to resign. But this is difficult as he heads an elected government.

The third option is an assassination attempt against Al Maliki with the help of terrorist groups, and to put in place a puppet administration favourable to the Americans.

Gulfnews: US 'may plot assassination of Al Maliki'

Washington to answer Baghdad’s proposals on joint Agreement

A close source from the Iraqi government said that the U.S answer on the strategic agreement between Baghdad and Washington is going to be delivered this week.

“The information reefers to initial acceptance by the U.S side on Baghdad’s proposals regarding the immunity and setting a timetable to pull out of the foreign forces”, he added.

PUKmedia :: English - Washington to answer Baghdad’s proposals on joint agreement

Tens of thousands of Iraqis may come to U.S. in '09

The United States has surpassed its goal of admitting 12,000 Iraqi refugees this year and expects more, perhaps tens of thousands, next year, the State Department said on Friday.

The United States expects to admit a minimum of 17,000 Iraqi refugees in fiscal 2009, which begins October 1, the department's senior coordinator for refugees said. Thousands more Iraqis and their family members could arrive through a special visa program for people who worked for the United States or its contractors.

"I think you'll see the U.S. government admitting over the course of fiscal 2009 tens of thousands of Iraqis into the United States," coordinator James Foley told reporters.

Up to 3,000 could come from Baghdad, where the United States began interviews this year, he said.

So far this year, 12,118 Iraqi refugees have arrived and 1,000 more are booked to travel to the United States by the end of this month, when the U.S. fiscal year ends, he said.

PUKmedia :: English - Tens of thousands of Iraqis may come to U.S. in '09

Local investment of more useful than Gas Export

An oil expert stressed that the domestic consumption of gas is economically feasible and more beneficial for the country of export. He said in a press release: The gas investment to support the domestic market and oil derivatives industry development and support of electric power plants and provide for state revenues is much better than it exported surplus.

As well as tens of thousands of jobs for the unemployed and bring modern technology. Promised oil expert, who preferred to remain anonymous, said an Oil Ministry contracted with the French company Shell for the sale and export of associated gas in the provinces of the south wrong.

The foundations of this vision expert from the actual needs of each gas fired There is a surplus of gas central and southern cities to use electricity grids and Alaptrrukemiawiyeh industries and heavy industries, construction and infrastructure.

Objection oil expert, this came against the backdrop of the Oil Ministry negotiations with Shell Global for the purpose of establishing coalitions gas trading company 51 percent share of the South Oil Company and 49 percent in favour Shell as the coalition gas gathering and processing burned part of it to support the electric grid that the surplus will be exported through the contract for the sale of gas company Shell for the latter for export to world markets as he put it.

He asked the expert, who preferred anonymity on the reasons for the Oil Ministry to adopt a policy Export gas from the southern governorates, pointing out that the ministry knows, based on estimates of Iraqi oil experts that there is no surplus gas from central and southern cities of the need for use in electricity grids and other other industries.

Promised investment policy gas in central and southern governorates to support local market and industry development and support derivatives Factories and electric power is much better economically feasible to export the surplus because it guarantees the best return on state and weaken the hopes of export. He said: differences when compared to the accounts and economic assessment of purely commercial as well as they achieved a return on it would provide tens of thousands of employment opportunities and develop a technology for the country , Pointing out that the policy of exporting gas will generate benefits first and foremost on big companies to control global markets without the benefit of maximum gas consumption locally at the stage of greatest need is a mechanism of Iraq, especially in the reconstruction phase.

The oil expert said: The biggest evidence of the actual need for local consumption Gulf states are suffering from scarcity of natural gas because of urban expansion and industrial case, how a future Iraq and a revival of big upswing in the campaign to rebuild. The oil expert, told reporters that an Oil Ministry has increased the foggy future investment for the country and declining services at all levels - as he put it --

Translated version of http://www.alsabaah.com/

Iraqi Parliament cancels Committee that was formed to resolve differences over Electoral Law

The board member Iraqi parliament Khalid Sichuan today, Saturday, the presidency of the Iraqi parliament decided to cancel the committee formed recently to resolve differences on the law of provincial council elections and the formation of a new committee.

The Presidium of the Iraqi parliament last Wednesday formed a committee of heads of parliamentary blocs to consider the existing differences on the Elections Act and the provincial assemblies a week deadline to present its results.

He explained in an interview with Al Shawa "Uzmatik" that "the presidency of the Iraqi parliament decided to dissolve the Committee after its meeting today, Saturday, following the request of some members of the Committee of the other political blocs include the subject of Article 24 of the electoral law within the meeting led to tension between the Kurdistan Alliance and other blocs."

He said Chuan, a deputy from the Kurdistan Alliance list, that "the parties claiming to Article 24 seeks to restore the negotiations between the political blocs on the election law back to square one and to prevent any progress leading to the adoption of the law."

Chua described the decision of the Presidency of the Iraqi parliament to dissolve the Commission mentioned the "subjective, because it came at a time when the political blocs is ready to make some compromises to pass the law."

Attorney for the Kurdistan Alliance revealed by the Presidency of Parliament "to form a new committee task to find solutions on the fundamental differences in the electoral law committee comprises regions and the legal committee in parliament."

He pointed out that Sichuan "Kurdistan Alliance showed great flexibility during the meetings to reach a definitive solution on the election law, as approved all proposals made by the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Stefan de Mistura, on the organization of elections in Kirkuk."

It is noteworthy that the differences between the political blocs around Article 24 of the Electoral Act, which contains the postponement of elections in the province for six months, with the need to be making in the governorate of Kirkuk through a period of postponement by mutual agreement between the three main components "Arabs - a response - Turkmen", to be Is the sharing of power among them by 32% in each component gives the proportion of 4% for Christians, as well as the transfer of the security file in the city to military units from around the southern and central Iraq, rather than military units currently operating. Parliament has failed throughout the first legislative So far reaching a solution After last July approved the Law of the provincial assemblies and rejection of the Presidency of the Republic.

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/

Parliament: Natural Gas will not issue from the territory of Iraqi Kurdistan only with the consent of the Government

Ruled out the vice-president of the oil and gas in the Iraqi parliament, deputy coalition list of common Abdul Hadi ABOLHASSANI that "the Kurdistan Regional Government to export natural gas from oil fields located on the territory of the province, without the consent of the Iraqi government."

The director of the company "UAE Oil Crescent Iraq's Kurdistan Province has announced exclusive Salem, in July last from the end of preparations, before his company and its partner," Dana Gas Turkish ", to release the draft Kurdistan Gas City.

He explained in an interview ABOLHASSANI "Uzmatik" that "the Kurdistan province agreement with the two companies to produce gas from oil fields located in the Kurdistan region should be under the supervision of the Iraqi government and oil marketing company (SOMO) of the Iraqi Oil Ministry, as well as the amounts of gas exportation of this product by Project in the budget year of the Iraqi State. "

ABOLHASSANI He added that "the Iraqi government was currently working with neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran, to prevent the export of oil and gas from the Iraqi Kurdistan region or other parts of Iraq, but their supervision and after agreement with these countries."

ABOLHASSANI pointed out that "officials of the Kurdistan region of Iraq told the Iraqi government that the city gas project will be earmarked for domestic sufficiency of the territory of gas, and the rest is exported out of Iraq," pointing to the need to "be developed oil and gas exports from the region in the Fund and one of the Iraqi Government , To be distributed equally to members of the Iraqi people, as is the case in oil production from the rest areas. "

Vice Chairman of the Committee on the oil and gas in the Iraqi parliament said that "the Iraqi Oil Ministry did not give any contracts for oil company Crescent Emirates, because of their participation in the city gas project Kurdistan province, although in line with ministry procedures relating to the imposition of service contracts and not investment contracts."

He stressed ABOLHASSANI "on the existence of tendency at the Iraqi Oil Ministry to cancel all oil contracts that were signed prior to the approval of oil and gas law, if parliament approved the law in Iraq during the coming period."

He attributed ABOLHASSANI "delay in the ratification of the oil and gas to the issuance of the Kurdistan region of the special law in this area, contrary to most of its paragraphs with the law of oil and gas endorsed by the Iraqi cabinet."

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/

Opening of the American Embassy in Baghdad in November next

Sources releases on completion of building the U.S. Embassy in central Baghdad Green Zone at six hundred million dollars, is expected to be inaugurated in the month of November Next The newspaper said "The Australian" Australian: The cost of this complex of more than 600 million Dollarromessahtha over an area of Vatican City State and constructed in the Green Zone in Baghdad is the headquarters of a broader diplomatic presence in the world, is expected to open in November next to indicate the start of a new chapter U.S. relationship with Iraq. In spite of the occupation of a large geographical area, but the high walls embassy building will make the biggest in the world, hidden from the eyes, for security reasons. Everything that can be seen from the new embassy, which is considered the largest palace of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, is the dozens of new cement girders, painted brown and gray. And set up the new embassy on an area of 42 hectares, at a cost of 600 million dollars. The office will include the widening of the 1000 Employees, along with 6 residential buildings, comprising 619 units of staff. It will house the Ambassador of 16 thousand square square feet, while his deputy live in an area of 9500 square feet.

It also will include the embassy school and a center for shopping, food centres, swimming pool, tennis and golf, basketball and Gymnastics, cinema, cosmetics and a social club. They will have a particular source of fresh water, as well as the power station and facilities for sewage treatment, and special maintenance shops and stores. The company "Berger Devaev Biggar" engineering, and its mandate Kansas, took the reconstruction of the embassy and architectural fees published on its website, but the U.S. State Department ordered the removal of photographs and charts. U.S. State Department has refused all requests made by the media to do a tour inside the building, and promised instead to offer pictures of the entrance. And will protect the new building, which was described as "fortress inside the castle," occurring in the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, special force of marines.

Translated version of http://almalafpress.net/index.php?m=39

De. That. Norwegian declare or expand the field Toki held in Kurdistan

De said. That. Or Norwegian International Petroleum Friday that it had been held to expand Toki oil field in northern Iraq and increase its share in the venture operation west of Dohuk to 55 percent from 40 percent.

The company said that in return concessions from most of the area of Dohuk. The company manages the field Toki through an agreement to participate in production with the regional Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq.

He said Hilg hands of the E.x.e.cutive Chairman of the company in a statement that the company's position after the implementation of these amendments should focus entirely on its preparation Toki field of export and continue to assess and identify Holr revealed a prelude to development.

He added that these amendments while retaining another area of potential oil struck a balance between the opportunities for exploration and development work and production company in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Last month's announced cut-off experimental field of Toki on a temporary basis. The company said Friday that the regional government said that it is possible to resume production next week and the pilot was being installed new testing equipment.

The Kurdish government has allowed them to proceed with the rest of activities in preparation for export. So far, the company sells its production in the domestic market but said repeatedly that it expects to obtain a licence to export oil from Iraq this year.

The company's shares rose 6.17 percent to 6.38 kroner by 0708 hours GMT the company's value to $ 5.8 billion Norwegian kroner (999.9 million dollars).

Translated version of http://almalafpress.net/index.php?m=39

First bank in al-Husseiniya to be set up

A local company will embark on Saturday on carrying out a project for the first government bank in al-Husseiniya district, 20 km northern Karbala, at a cost of more than 800 million Iraqi dinars, the province's governor said on Friday.

"The project, part of the finance ministry allocations, is composed of two floors and a large hall and is expected to be finalized in 10 months," Uqeel al-Khazaali told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

"Once finished, the bank will provide services for a wide category of local residents in the district and neighboring villages, in addition to other services for pensioners," Khazaali said.

Karbala, with an estimated population of 572,300 people in 2003, is the capital of the province and is considered to be one of Shiite Muslims' holiest cities.

The city, 110 km south of Baghdad, is one of Iraq's wealthiest, profiting both from religious visitors and agricultural produce, especially dates.

It is made up of two districts, "Old Karbala," the religious centre, and "New Karbala," the residential district containing Islamic schools and government buildings.

Aswat Aliraq

Originally Posted by Seaview

Iraqi Parliament cancels Committee that was formed to resolve differences over Electoral Law

The board member Iraqi parliament Khalid Sichuan today, Saturday, the presidency of the Iraqi parliament decided to cancel the committee formed recently to resolve differences on the law of provincial council elections and the formation of a new committee.

The Presidium of the Iraqi parliament last Wednesday formed a committee of heads of parliamentary blocs to consider the existing differences on the Elections Act and the provincial assemblies a week deadline to present its results.

He explained in an interview with Al Shawa "Uzmatik" that "the presidency of the Iraqi parliament decided to dissolve the Committee after its meeting today, Saturday, following the request of some members of the Committee of the other political blocs include the subject of Article 24 of the electoral law within the meeting led to tension between the Kurdistan Alliance and other blocs."

He said Chuan, a deputy from the Kurdistan Alliance list, that "the parties claiming to Article 24 seeks to restore the negotiations between the political blocs on the election law back to square one and to prevent any progress leading to the adoption of the law."

Chua described the decision of the Presidency of the Iraqi parliament to dissolve the Commission mentioned the "subjective, because it came at a time when the political blocs is ready to make some compromises to pass the law."

Attorney for the Kurdistan Alliance revealed by the Presidency of Parliament "to form a new committee task to find solutions on the fundamental differences in the electoral law committee comprises regions and the legal committee in parliament."

He pointed out that Sichuan "Kurdistan Alliance showed great flexibility during the meetings to reach a definitive solution on the election law, as approved all proposals made by the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Stefan de Mistura, on the organization of elections in Kirkuk."

It is noteworthy that the differences between the political blocs around Article 24 of the Electoral Act, which contains the postponement of elections in the province for six months, with the need to be making in the governorate of Kirkuk through a period of postponement by mutual agreement between the three main components "Arabs - a response - Turkmen", to be Is the sharing of power among them by 32% in each component gives the proportion of 4% for Christians, as well as the transfer of the security file in the city to military units from around the southern and central Iraq, rather than military units currently operating. Parliament has failed throughout the first legislative So far reaching a solution After last July approved the Law of the provincial assemblies and rejection of the Presidency of the Republic.

Translated version of http://iraqalaan.com/

Update........

Iraq’s provincial elections committee dissolved

The committee tasked with discussing the question of the provincial elections law was dissolved today after the Iraqi parliamentary blocs could not reach a consensus concerning article 24 of the provincial elections law, Iraqi lawmaker Khalid Shwani said.

The committee, which was formed on Wednesday, was chaired by speaker of the Iraqi parliament and had seven members representing all Iraqi components.

As Shwani said, another committee is expected to be formed out of the provincial and legal parliamentary committees.

PUKmedia :: English - Iraq’s provincial elections committee dissolved