Thread: Iraq/Dinar News. 09/05 to 01/14/07

New Turkish dam threatens Iraqi agriculture


Iraqi farmers depending on Tigris water face drastic water shortage if Turkey’s Ilisu Dam is completed.


BAGHDAD - Alarm bells rang last August at Khalifa Shawkat al-Yass’ house as news spread of the construction of a massive dam on the Tigris River in Turkey. As a farmer depending on the Tigris, fear of losing his livelihood has been a constant worry on his mind ever since.

"We call upon the government to find the appropriate solution to protect our livelihood because we have no other sources, just this land and cattle," said al-Yass, 50, a father of 15 children.

"I have no other choice. I can't leave my land and take all my family to live in another place. This will be hard for us," he added.

The 1,800km-long Tigris flows from eastern Turkey to southern Iraq, where it joins the Euphrates River and eventually empties into the Gulf. The Ilisu Dam will be one of the largest dams in Turkey and is scheduled to be completed by 2013. The dam’s main functions will be to produce hydro-electric power and bring better irrigation for local agriculture.

However, it will reduce the amount of Tigris water entering Iraqi territories by nearly 50 percent.

"The normal annual amount of Tigris water at the Iraqi-Turkish borders is 20.93 billion cubic metres and this amount will be reduced to 9.7 billion cubic metres per year with the completion of this dam," said Ali Nasser, an expert at the Ministry of Water Resources.

"And that will deprive at least 696,000 hectares of agricultural land from fresh water. And, of course, this will have negative affects in the fields of agricultural production, potable water and electricity," Nasser added.

Nasser warned that this will expand desertification in Iraq and force the farmers who depend on Tigris to abandon their lands and head to cities unless an agreement is reached with the Turkish government.


Last August, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan led a ground-breaking ceremony for the controversial dam project that supporters say will bring vital water supplies to parts of the overwhelmingly Kurdish south-east of Turkey but which critics say will drown the area's archaeological heritage.

Progress on the dam has been repeatedly delayed as human rights and environmental groups have pressured international contracting firms to withdraw from the project. They say that the dam will flood dozens of towns and destroy archaeological treasures including the medieval fortress city of Hasankeyf, which overlooks the Tigris.

The Turkish government is anxious, however, to see the dam completed. "We have lost enough time, we don't have any more time to wait," Erdogan said at the ceremony, promising supporters that the dam would transform the Tigris River into the "Ilisu Sea” - turning the brown landscape green and attracting tourism to the impoverished region.

Iraqi farmer Arif Moussa Mohammed, 60, fears the reverse will happen for him. He has dug three wells to ensure he has enough water for his 250 hectares of land, which lie on the banks of the Tigris in one of Mosul’s villages in northern Iraq, some 400km north of the capital, Baghdad. Already, he has water problems of a different nature.

"The problem we face is that we have briny water due to the effect of some chemical materials deep inside the soil and that is not good for our olive trees, which need just fresh water," Mohammed said. "This means more trouble for our already devastated life as we will not be able to use this water for our land or for our cattle in case of any future shortages."

The impact of a reduced flow of water in the Tigris will be felt far beyond farmland in northern Iraq. In the southern city of Basra, about 550km south of Baghdad, Abdullah Ramadan, an official with the Marshlands Revival Centre, depicted a grim picture for the newly revived marshlands with the construction of the dam.

"The marshlands are at risk of losing about 3 million cubic metres of water per year and this will endanger the life there," Ramadan said.


© IRIN

ASSOCIATED PRESS

10:16 a.m. November 29, 2006

DAMASCUS, Syria – The Syrian capital is bustling with Iraqi refugees who fled







the increasingly brutal violence in their homeland, and thousands more are arriving every day.
A group of Iraqis gathered around a table in a Damascus coffee shop one evening this week, and one told a bitter joke about their country's plight – and their own.







What will President Bush ask of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at their summit in Jordan?
“A timetable for Iraqis to withdraw from Iraq,” the joke-teller said, drawing loud laughter.

Well over a million Iraqis have left their homeland since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, and the rate is speeding up. The United Nations estimated in early November that 100,000 Iraqis flee the country every month.

After Jordan made entry more difficult this year, Syria became the top destination for Iraqis, with some 2,000 entering daily, according to the U.N. count. Syrian officials estimate some 700,000 Iraqis have arrived since 2003, far more than in any other country in the region.

In Damascus, many Iraqis live a precarious existence, often without steady incomes. Many say they left Iraq after being threatened with abduction by criminal gangs or sectarian militias.

“We are living like homeless people. How long can we survive after we spent all the money we had?” asked Lutfi Kairallah, a civil engineer who was among the men in the coffee shop. He said he left Iraq with his family after a militia ordered him to go or be killed.

Raad Hamadan, a businessman at the coffee shop, was abducted by a gang and freed after his family paid a $50,000 ransom. He and his family then fled Iraq.

“Nothing, and no one can end our nightmare. Only God can. Not Bush, not al-Maliki, not any one of those Arab rulers,” he said.

Another refugee, Walid al-Khayat, said his bus was stopped en route to the Syrian border by Sunni insurgents who robbed him and other passengers. “A million thanks to God, they didn't kill me,” he said. “But they machine-gunned the passenger next to me just because his name was Abdel Hassan” – a Shiite name.

In Syria, Iraqis can receive free health care and schooling. Still, many Iraqis complain they feel unwelcome. For example, landlords increase rent regularly and threaten to evict those who cannot pay.

Wealthy Iraqis can open businesses, helping to boost Syria's economy. But Iraqi professionals such as doctors, lawyers and teachers are not allowed to work.

“We can't make any plans for ourselves and our children because tomorrow is just a mystery for us,” said Noor Ziyad, a former teacher in Baghdad.

Syria does not require entry visas from Arabs, but those who wish to stay longer than six months must leave the country and return. Since other countries impose strict visa regulations on Iraqis, the refugees either have to stay illegally in Syria, facing huge penalties, or risk their lives by going back to Iraq.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said this month that Jordan – where some 500,000 Iraqis have fled – has tightened its rules, refusing to renew visas and turning Iraqis away at the border. Heavy fines are imposed on those caught staying longer than allowed by their visas, and those who cannot pay are sometimes forced to return to Iraq, the report said.

In early November, the U.N. said 1.8 million Iraqis were living in other Arab countries. The figure included those living outside Iraq before the 2003 invasion and did not say how many had fled since then.

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in Syria said it has noticed a significant increase in the number of Iraqis fleeing to Syria and Egypt, another major destination.

“It is a huge crisis of displacement,” said Laurens Jolles of the UNHCR office in Damascus. “It is unimaginable situation that we are trying to deal with.”



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Posted by CharmedPiper

Here is something I was thinking about. I bet that King Abdullah and Maliki already have a plan and will present it to Bush tomorrow, this way they can tell their neighbor Arabs (especially the one's who are not crazy about the U.S.) that they worked everything out and here is the plan that way no one would be offended thinking Bush came in there and told them what to do.....guaranteed King Abdullah will do right by both leaders and it has to be economically advantageous!!!! What do you think???

YOU, MY DEAR IS 100% CORRECT AGAIN!!! Bush, the poor man, is not an Arab and those folks do things THEIR WAY we have found out.

RV TOMORROW TOMORROW!!

"Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection. What a liar

"Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies." give me a break
Since the United States' presence in Iraq began, "hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. ... Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated. By there fueling insurgency
What an *****! Here he wants us to unite with him and admit that our own military fueled the insurgency. Yeah...right! That's going to happen.

As China's ever-present thirst for oil and gas soars, the Chinese dragon may choose to gamble politically, in Iran, and on the security level, in Iraq, to gain a foothold in areas where other global competitors may seem ambivalent, Reuters reported in an analysis.

Noozz.com | IRAQ

CAMP UR, Iraq, Sept. 22, 2006 — Iraqi President Jalal Talabani traveled to New York this week for the opening of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly. In a letter to the people of the United States, Talabani describes Iraq’s security situation, challenges and progress, and his country’s special relationship with the U.S.


“Dear Americans,

As I am visiting the United States for the second time representing free and democratic Iraq, I felt it my duty to give you an update on what has been achieved in Iraq over the past year and on the challenges that lie ahead.

The first thing I would like to convey is the gratitude of all Iraqis, who are fighting for a democratic government and a civil society, to the Americans. Without your commitment, our struggle against despotism could not have made the progress that we have achieved. No expression of thanks could be enough for those who lost loved ones in Iraq. We feel your pain, we honor your sacrifice and we will never forget you. To those of you who have family and friends in Iraq today, we say: Your sons and daughters are helping us through a historic transition. We will always remember the enormous sacrifice that America is making for Iraq.

Thanks to the United States, we are transforming Iraq from a country that was ruled by fear, repression and dictatorship into a country that is ruled by democracy and has the values of equality, tolerance, human rights and the rule of law at its heart.

April 9, 2003, the day of liberation, heralded a new era in the history of Iraq and the region. That day triggered a sequence of events that laid the foundation of a modern Iraq that is at peace with itself and the world. All segments of Iraqi society have benefited from liberation.

Under Saddam Hussein, the majority of the Sunni Arabs of Iraq were marginalized; Saddam and his gang were ruling in the name of this community. But in reality, the Sunni Arabs never had the chance to choose their representatives democratically and have a say about their future. Today, they have 58 deputies in Parliament, a vice president, a deputy prime minister and a speaker of Parliament; all were elected by the people of Iraq.

The Shia majority of Iraq was for decades oppressed and discriminated against. They did not even have the right to practice their religious ceremonies. Now, they are equal citizens and hold key posts in government and parliament through their democratically elected representatives.

Kurds were second-class citizens. They suffered from genocide and chemical bombardment; now they are equal members of Iraqi society and active participants in the running of their country, Iraq. The same applies to the Turkomens, Assyrians and other groups of Iraqi society.

Iraq finally has an elected and representative government, a huge contrast to the authority of a vicious tyrant. In other words, Iraq is no longer the property of a gang that ruled by fear and repression. Every Iraqi today feels they have a stake in the new Iraq.

With the regime of Saddam gone, the countries of the Middle East no longer worry about the threat of new adventures by Saddam and his army across Iraq's international borders.

Every time that I visit the United States, I am convinced anew of the virtues and health of the American idea of government, and of the generosity of its people.

I was here around the same time last year. Here is what has happened between then and now, although I must say that I do not think that our situation can be understood simply by following the latest news. A much broader view of Iraq must be taken. For this, I will start with the economy.

The economic conditions for most Iraqis have improved. The economy was liberated from the control of the state and we are now taking the first steps in creating a vibrant private sector. Thanks to our independent businesspeople, our market places are bustling despite the unsettled security situation. A new investment law is before our Parliament. It will further invigorate our private sector, streamline the procedures for starting a new business, and open the country to greater foreign participation and investment. Salaries of government employees were raised 100 times or more. A policeman under Saddam received $2 to $3 dollars a month. Now a policeman is paid at least $200 a month.

The financial and economic boom is mostly noticed in the safer parts of Iraq. The city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan region now has more than 2,000 millionaires. Before liberation, the city had 12.

Politically, we had an eventful year. For the first time in Iraq's history, we ratified a constitution that enshrines many of the democratic values of human rights, equality, rule of law and good government. After three historic ballots that remain landmarks in the history of the Middle East, we now have a government that arises out of the people, instead of over the people, to use the words of a great American patriot, Thomas Paine.

Unlike the previous election, last December more people voted - 10.5 million - and a more representative parliament and a national unity government are now in place. Taking part in the national election and referendum on the constitution were the first steps in our national reconciliation efforts; we opted for the ballots and not the bullets to resolve our differences.

We consolidated this by the National Reconciliation Plan of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The plan aims at bringing into the political process all elements of the Iraqi political spectrum that condemn terror and violence.

In the period between the election and the formation of the national unity government, the political blocs - which formed the government later - agreed on the political program for the government and agreed on forming the Political Council for National Security.

An important event that marked the new Iraq over the past year is the trial of Saddam Hussein and his aides for the crimes that were committed against the people of Iraq. We offered him the justice that he denied Iraqis for decades. The trials, the testimonies of the witnesses and those of the defendants are stark reminders and indications of what Iraq was like in the past and what the new Iraq is about.

Through the constitution and other legal means, we are redefining the foundations that Iraq was built on and are rebuilding what the country's bloody past has destroyed. We have no choice but to succeed. Our enemy attempts to destroy and disrupt any part of the political process, not because they disagree with the tenets of the Iraqi constitution, but because they do not want a constitution.

This contingent of international terrorists and the supporters and beneficiaries of the old regime - the devotees of Saddam Hussein - constitute the driving force of our enemy. They attempt to turn Iraqis against each other, and take Iraq back to its brutal and bloody past. Their tactics of suicide bombings and beheadings make it obvious that they mean to govern by inciting terror and fear, just as Saddam did.

Although portions of Iraq are already safe and secure, certain parts are still coming under attack from the vicious, bloodthirsty enemy. With the support of the citizens of Baghdad, the government started its Baghdad Security Plan. This plan is already showing signs of success, with a marked drop in the reported incidents of violence over the last month.

The battle in Iraq today is not between the various communities. Their elected representatives have agreed on a government of national unity and on national reconciliation. Nor is it a battle between civilizations, as some have seen it. It is a war "about civilization" as Prime Minister Tony Blair has phrased it so well - the conflict is between those who believe in having a civilization and those who don't believe in having one at all.

As you no doubt already understand, we are fighting a terribly difficult war in Iraq. We are doing everything within our power to protect our people from this clear form of fascism that seduces them into civil war. The calculated crime of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his henchmen in bombing the Shrine of Samarra, one of Iraq's religious and cultural treasures, is a prime example of their agenda. They wanted to slide the country into civil war. Thanks to the presence of the U.S. forces in Iraq and the wisdom of my colleagues in the leadership of Iraq, that plan was thwarted and the short spate of violence was contained.

I want to be frank here. In order to rid Iraq of the constant threat of violence, we still need your help. As long as we are determent to outlast and outsmart our enemy, we shall reach our common goals.

Iraq is slowly gaining the ability to fight this war with its own soldiers, evidenced recently by the relinquishing of complete control of coalition forces to the Iraqi government. The coalition now employs more soldiers from Iraq than any other nation. Slowly but surely, Iraq will be able to protect itself on its own.

The stakes of Iraq are enormous, world-shifting even. This is why our country should be a point of concern for every democratic country of the world. I can assure you that the immediate departure of coalition forces would only unleash tensions between different communities, the prospect of a safe Iraq wou ld be completely lost, and the previous descriptions of a civil war would seem insufficient and tame compared to the bloodshed of an Iraq that loses its international support.

And although I cannot promise when or how the American presence will completely end in Iraq, I can promise that American soldiers do not fight in vain. We in Iraq recognize that an incredible amount of American resources have been offered to us. And we understand that many Americans are frustrated with the course of the war, and we understand that doubt naturally coincides with difficulty. I realize that many Americans were apprehensive about the decision to go to war. But I ask that you put this behind you in favor of supporting a democratic and free Iraq, and a future for Iraqis that excludes the threat of violence and extremism. I ask that you consider what the terms of failure in Iraq would actually look like, and what they would mean for Iraq, the United States and the international community.

I would venture to say that the interest of Iraq and the United States are one in this matter. The United States carries a heavy responsibility in helping us. As complicated as the relationship may be, America and Iraq are now siblings in the world.”

Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq


DefendAmerica - U.S. Defense Dept. War on Terror: 11/29/2006 - Final Edition

I want to add before you read this little news then its
very hard to not be excited right now by all the news we
read it and the auction ect.....

ARE YOU READY FOR THE PARTYYY YA BABY!!!!!


(Voice of Iraq) - 11-30-2006
اThis issue was sent to a friend

Demonstrations to protest the visit of American President Saddam rose pictures ... Jordan is active diplomatic moves culminating in the meeting between Bush and al-Maliki today
Amman-Nabil Gishan life-30 / 11 / 06 / /

The Jordanian capital of Amman yesterday active diplomatic moves and meetings between Jordanian King Abdullah II and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other officials Arakin, today will culminate in a meeting between President George Bush and Al-Maliki.


And across the Jordanian monarch expressed concern at the escalation of violence in Iraq, stressing the importance of the international community and the success of reconciliation, which requires the existence and harmony among the Iraqi people on the future of Iraq with the participation of all Iraqi forces. He explained that an end to the deteriorating situation in Iraq is only through the political process and the success of national reconciliation efforts.

King Abdullah expressed the hope that the result of the meeting with Bush, Maliki to clear mechanism to put an end to the deterioration of security in Iraq and help the police forces to take control of the situation there.

He explained that the success of the government «Maliki in control of the violence in Iraq. Jordan is a priority for achieving them ».He called on all components of the Iraqi people to unite ranks «more than ever, and to renounce differences to overcome attempts to stoke sow discord and differences among them».

The owners of the concern «Jordan escalation of violence in Iraq», He said «no end to the deteriorating situation in Iraq is only through the political process and the success of the national reconciliation requires the existence and harmony among the Iraqi people about the future of Iraq, which must guarantee the participation of all Iraqi forces in shape and build».

He stressed the importance of «standing of the international community and the Arab and Islamic world more than ever before by the Iraqi people to overcome the difficult conditions faced by». «Also stressed Jordan's support for the political process led by the current government in Iraq», He said that «Jordan continuous efforts on various Arab and international levels to address what is happening in Iraq and defuse the fighting». He stressed King Abdullah II on «responsibility of the nation's scholars and Shiaghm freshman and the need for adopting a unified denies murdering Muslims».

For his part Maliki thanked Jordan for hosting the meeting. the Jordanian monarch, who explained the situation in Iraq, and said : «come a long way in building democracy in the area to return them». He added that «Iraqi and American leaderships Taulan much on the expected meeting today to address the grave security situation and lack of breadth rising».

In the framework of preparations for the arrival of Bush met with the Jordanian monarch yesterday President «Supreme Council» of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim warned against sectarian fighting in Iraq, pointing to his willingness to assist in the efforts to get Iraq to the cycle of violence and return to play the active and vital role in the region.

He promised to work with the Arab States to intensify efforts to help Iraq and its people to move forward in urging all components of the Iraqi people to participate in the political process.

For his part, Hakim expressed pride in the Jordanian positive role to help Iraq Democrat, He emphasized that the political process in Iraq, the product of the desire of millions of sons of the Iraqi people. He said Hakim «not return to Iraq to back and we look forward to the support of the Arab world and to stand by the people».

And it wise that «not in the interest of the Arabs to opt out of Iraq they must understand the nature of the circumstances undergone by ».He stressed that «proud of the Arab identity of Iraq and the sectarian war will be the biggest loser in our Sunni brothers».

It is expected that the Al-Maliki and Bush will hold a joint press conference after their meeting. Prior to the arrival of the American president launched three peaceful marches condemning and deploring arrival of American policy in the region, The first came from the campus of the University of Jordan to the street accompanied by the security forces and was attended by hundreds of students, With centrist parties expressed its protest to the visit to sit in front of the parliament building. The demonstration was organized by most opposition parties and trade unions hailed the official from the Ministry of the Interior, in which about one thousand people from the plaza to the building complex unions prime minister ahead of the leaders of Islamic parties, nationalist and leftist and union leaders, kaffiyehs Jordanian slogans and reject the Bush visit and the pictures of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The demonstrators burned in front of the government building, then an effigy of President Bush and American and Israeli flags.

(Voice of Iraq) - 11-30-200قThis issue was sent to a friend

The Prime Ministers of Iraq and Kurdistan agree on the formation of a ministerial committee to resolve differences Baghdad and Erbil
Baghdad : Haidar Najm

The Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki with the Prime Minister of the government of the Kurdistan Najirfan Barzani to form a joint ministerial commission between the government and the territorial government's research on the points of disagreement between the two sides. A statement issued by the Council of Ministers in the government of the Kurdistan region and the Middle East received «» copy, that Maliki Najirfan Barzani and discussed ways of strengthening the economic situation and coordination between the bodies concerned in the central government and the territorial government in the areas of finance, economic and reconstruction projects and reached agreement includes the establishment of a joint ministerial committee to discuss the pending files and points between Baghdad and Erbil, During the meeting, which brought together in Baghdad the day before yesterday.The statement pointed out that the most important outstanding issues is the file Article (140) of the Iraqi Constitution on the issue of the disputed city of Kirkuk, The draft investment in the oil region, The proportion of the budget of the government of the province from the central budget for the country, stressing that the two sides after an exchange of views on the resolution of these files, they decided to continue these consultations and the formation of a ministerial committee to discuss and exchange views among them.
اMiddle East

Translated version of http://www.sotaliraq.com/iraqi-elections/

POL-LD JORDAN-IRAQ
Jordan, Iraq place great deal of importance on Iraq unity, stability

AMMAN, Nov 29 (KUNA) -- Jordan and Iraq stressed importance Wednesday on maintaining Iraq's unity and peace and retaining stability as soon as possible.

Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and Iraqi counterpart Nouri Al-Maliki held talks here where both stressed importance on cooperation among neighboring countries to guarantee safety and security in the region especially with regards to fighting terrorism.

The two officials also talked about the importance of executing signed bilateral agreements, especially in the commercial, economical, and security fields.

According to Jordan News Agency (PETRA), Bakhit affirmed Jordan's keenness in supporting efforts to end the violence in Iraq, pointing at King Abdullah's directives to intensify the exerted efforts to help the Iraqi people overcome the difficult situation.

For his part, Al-Maliki expressed the Iraqi government wish to enhance relations and cooperation with Jordan which will bring safety and stability to the whole region.

Al-Maliki also placed importance of cooperation to fight escalating terrorism, adding that that the newly elected government came as a result of a national unity government coming from a legitimate and a democratic election. (pickup previous) bsb.
mb

Kuna site|Story page|Jordan, Iraq place great deal of importance on Ira...11/29/2006

I really like the part below in red.....!!!

Originally Posted by pipshurricane

I want to add before you read this little news then its
very hard to not be excited right now by all the news we
read it and the auction ect.....

ARE YOU READY FOR THE PARTYYY YA BABY!!!!!


(Voice of Iraq) - 11-30-2006
اThis issue was sent to a friend

Demonstrations to protest the visit of American President Saddam rose pictures ... Jordan is active diplomatic moves culminating in the meeting between Bush and al-Maliki today
Amman-Nabil Gishan life-30 / 11 / 06 / /

The Jordanian capital of Amman yesterday active diplomatic moves and meetings between Jordanian King Abdullah II and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other officials Arakin, today will culminate in a meeting between President George Bush and Al-Maliki.


And across the Jordanian monarch expressed concern at the escalation of violence in Iraq, stressing the importance of the international community and the success of reconciliation, which requires the existence and harmony among the Iraqi people on the future of Iraq with the participation of all Iraqi forces. He explained that an end to the deteriorating situation in Iraq is only through the political process and the success of national reconciliation efforts.

King Abdullah expressed the hope that the result of the meeting with Bush, Maliki to clear mechanism to put an end to the deterioration of security in Iraq and help the police forces to take control of the situation there.

He explained that the success of the government «Maliki in control of the violence in Iraq. Jordan is a priority for achieving them ».He called on all components of the Iraqi people to unite ranks «more than ever, and to renounce differences to overcome attempts to stoke sow discord and differences among them».

The owners of the concern «Jordan escalation of violence in Iraq», He said «no end to the deteriorating situation in Iraq is only through the political process and the success of the national reconciliation requires the existence and harmony among the Iraqi people about the future of Iraq, which must guarantee the participation of all Iraqi forces in shape and build».

He stressed the importance of «standing of the international community and the Arab and Islamic world more than ever before by the Iraqi people to overcome the difficult conditions faced by». «Also stressed Jordan's support for the political process led by the current government in Iraq», He said that «Jordan continuous efforts on various Arab and international levels to address what is happening in Iraq and defuse the fighting». He stressed King Abdullah II on «responsibility of the nation's scholars and Shiaghm freshman and the need for adopting a unified denies murdering Muslims».

For his part Maliki thanked Jordan for hosting the meeting. the Jordanian monarch, who explained the situation in Iraq, and said : «come a long way in building democracy in the area to return them». He added that «Iraqi and American leaderships Taulan much on the expected meeting today to address the grave security situation and lack of breadth rising».

In the framework of preparations for the arrival of Bush met with the Jordanian monarch yesterday President «Supreme Council» of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim warned against sectarian fighting in Iraq, pointing to his willingness to assist in the efforts to get Iraq to the cycle of violence and return to play the active and vital role in the region.

He promised to work with the Arab States to intensify efforts to help Iraq and its people to move forward in urging all components of the Iraqi people to participate in the political process.

For his part, Hakim expressed pride in the Jordanian positive role to help Iraq Democrat, He emphasized that the political process in Iraq, the product of the desire of millions of sons of the Iraqi people. He said Hakim «not return to Iraq to back and we look forward to the support of the Arab world and to stand by the people».

And it wise that «not in the interest of the Arabs to opt out of Iraq they must understand the nature of the circumstances undergone by ».He stressed that «proud of the Arab identity of Iraq and the sectarian war will be the biggest loser in our Sunni brothers».

It is expected that the Al-Maliki and Bush will hold a joint press conference after their meeting. Prior to the arrival of the American president launched three peaceful marches condemning and deploring arrival of American policy in the region, The first came from the campus of the University of Jordan to the street accompanied by the security forces and was attended by hundreds of students, With centrist parties expressed its protest to the visit to sit in front of the parliament building. The demonstration was organized by most opposition parties and trade unions hailed the official from the Ministry of the Interior, in which about one thousand people from the plaza to the building complex unions prime minister ahead of the leaders of Islamic parties, nationalist and leftist and union leaders, kaffiyehs Jordanian slogans and reject the Bush visit and the pictures of the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The demonstrators burned in front of the government building, then an effigy of President Bush and American and Israeli flags.