Electronic Iraq : News & Analysis

An Initiative to Create the Federal Region of Basra Is Launched

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:04:28 CST

Iraqi politicians ponder Obama strategy on Iraq

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:23:21 CST

Political leaders here do not see substantial near-term changes in United States policies toward Iraq despite president-elect Barack Obama's pledge to withdraw American forces and curb development assistance.

Is the U.S. Pushing Arab capitals on ambassadors?

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:19:43 CST

More than five years after the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of Iraq, Arab capitals are beginning to send ambassadors to Baghdad. But some Egyptian commentators question the timing of the move, which they attribute to pressure from Washington.

Christians trickling back to their homes in Mosul

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:11:24 CST

About 400 Christian families have returned to their homes in the northern city of Mosul after a spate of threats and killings led them to flee in early October, according to officials. "We have so far registered nearly 400 Christian families who have returned to their houses and jobs, and resumed normal lives thanks to the deployment of security forces," said Jawdat Ismaiel, head of the Ministry of Displacement and Migration in the province.

Iraqi refugee women and girls in Jordan: “Rape is a death sentence”

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:05:42 CST

The Iraqi doctor looked us straight into the eyes and said "I would rather be dead than tell anyone I have been raped." If this woman—a highly educated, successful doctor working for the UN— wouldn't speak out, who would?

The Map of Electoral Coalitions South of Baghdad Is Taking Shape

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:32:31 CST

After a long series of extensions, it now seems as if the final deadline for forming coalitions for the next local elections in Iraq will be on November 2, 2008. The first announcement of coalitions among the Shiite Islamist parties is one of the indicators that suggest the coalition-forming process could be coming to an end.

Christian displacement slows in Ninevah

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:57:18 CST

BAGHDAD (IRIN) - Fewer Iraqi Christian families are fleeing their homes in the northern province of Ninevah thanks to the heavy presence of security forces, but families who already fled anti-Christian attacks over the past few weeks are living in difficult conditions and are still reluctant to return to their homes, a local aid official said on 25 October.

On the Status of Forces Agreement

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:12:53 CST

The leaking of the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) and the more general strategical framework deal between the United States and Iraq has been so gradual that few surprises remained by the time most details were finally considered to be in the public domain last week. Perhaps the most interesting way of looking at the proposed deal is to study it from the point of view of the Iraqi government.

Launch of a nationwide Voter Education Radio Programs

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:16:22 CST

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq is launching a nationwide Election Coverage Network, aimed at supporting the provincial electoral process. The newly launched network will provide Iraqi citizens throughout the country with timely "fair and balanced" quality information and elections reporting.

Uncertainty over who is behind attacks on Christians

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:14:05 CST

Iraqi officials, leaders of the Christian community and ordinary Christians are divided over who is behind the latest attacks on the country's Christian minority. All are agreed, however, on the need to address the unprecedented violence in the northern province of Ninevah which has seen numerous attacks on Christians since early October.

In run-up to local elections, Baghdad residents disillusioned despite security improvements

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:27:15 CST

During the 2005 elections, Abdullah and his brothers hung posters supporting the Shia-led United Iraqi Alliance in his grocery store in Baghdad's al-Mansur district. This year, as Iraq prepares for its provincial council elections - which are expected to be held by early next year - Abdullah's dream of a better life has crumbled and he has little interest in voting or politics. Abdullah once thought that politicians could bolster security and improve living conditions in Iraq. Now he said he remains sorely disappointed and feels unprotected.

Attacks drive thousands of Christians out of Mosul

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:20:49 CST

Nearly 750 Christian families, about 3,750 individuals, have fled their homes in Mosul, a city about 400km north of Baghdad, as Sunni Muslim extremists have increased attacks against this religious minority since October 4, a local official said on October 11.

Move to allow doctors to carry guns provokes mixed reaction

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 06:40:43 CST

On 29 September, the Iraqi government decided to allow every doctor to carry a gun for personal protection, and approved the construction of secure residential compounds inside and around hospitals to ensure security for doctors and their families. Dozens of doctors have been killed and thousands of others have fled the country since the US-led invasion in 2003.

Mixed Marriages Survive Conflict

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:06:58 CST

After five years of waiting, Sunni Turkman Mohammed Ali was very happy to finally marry his fiance and college friend Ahmed Ahmed, a Shia.The marriage, which took place on August 21, had been postponed due to resistance from the groom's father, who for some time was opposed to their union as he thought their different religious backgrounds might come between them. The two - who finally became engaged three months ago - were also unable to meet for a year during their courtship because the sectarian violence in the country was so intense. Dressed in a new suit, Ali, 30, looked to his bride sitting next to him in her white gown.

On Anniversary of Civilian Shootings by Blackwater in Iraq, Amnesty International Calls on U.S. Government to Hold Military Contractors Accountable

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:02:27 CST

The deaths of 17 civilians on Sept. 16, 2007, occurred when Blackwater personnel fired into the streets in Baghdad as the contractors were providing security protection for a U.S. diplomatic convoy. Both Iraqi and FBI investigations concluded that the shootings represented unjustifiable use of force against civilians. In April, despite Blackwater's history of reports of attacks against civilians, the State Department renewed its contract with the company for another term.

Women Officers Hired to Thwart Female Bombers

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:33:36 CST

n all-female civilian security force has been created to try to stem the threat of women suicide bombers following a summer of bloody attacks. In addition to the unarmed special unit, the authorities are to gather more intelligence on the trend. But women activists feel the strategy is flawed, believing it should be aimed at alleviated poverty. The number of female suicide bombers this year has risen dramatically, with ten of the estimated 30 attacks in 2008 occurring since June. The United States military estimates that the figure for 2008 is greater than the total for the period between 2003 and 2007.

Slow Sunni Integration Could Derail Iraq Successes

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:13:40 CST

Amid reports that the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has launched a campaign to disband the so-called Awakening Movement, or Sahwa, concerns among analysts and policy makers here is growing that such an effort could result in a resumption of sectarian violence, if not civil war. Only a fraction of the estimated 100,000 members of the mainly Sunni Sahwa, or "Sons of Iraq", has been absorbed into the Iraqi security forces. The slow pace fans fears that many of the fighters may resume their fight against the Shi'a-led central government.

Iraqi government cracks down on squatters

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:07:57 CST

The Iraqi government is cracking down on squatters occupying properties belonging to internally displaced persons and refugees as the one-month grace period expired at the end of August, a government spokesman said. The government has not yet released any data of how many houses belonging to displaced families have been cleared of squatters. But on September 3, the Migration and Displacement Ministry released its first report on the number of illegally occupied houses - 3,491 in nine provinces. These properties included houses, flats, land and other buildings. Baghdad had the highest number of squatter-occupied properties at 2,369.

Some Palestinian refugees in Iraq to get special IDs

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:50:18 CST

The Iraqi government has launched a registration process for Palestinian refugees who arrived between 1948 and 1967 -- and their descendants -- to help ensure they benefit from government aid programs. Those registered will be issued with ID cards which identify them as refugees, the Ministry of Displacement and Migration said on 26 August.

Members of "Awakening Group" say Sunni's have been unfairly targeted by Iraqi security forces

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:54:23 CST

Ahmed Ali and Dahr Jamail report that "a military operation said to target al-Qaeda has ended up targeting Sunni Muslims instead, creating new sectarian tensions. A U.S.-backed security operation launched last month has only targeted cities with majority Sunni populations such as Buhriz, Tahreer, Qatoon, Mafraq, and Hay in Diyala province, north of Baghdad. The operation has drawn more than 50,000 Iraqi soldiers."