The need to contribute financially to their families’ is turning students, even very young ones, into cross-border porters, a trend that is growing, especially in western Iran. Increasingly, many are also victims of accidents or shot by Pasdaran.
The Iraqi premier’s visit to Damascus continues today with a meeting with President Assad. In agenda: the economy, control of the borders and national reconciliation. But Maliki’s government in free fall could be seeking stronger legitimization in Syria.
The death toll from anti-Yazidi attacks in northern Iraq is rising and might reach 500. Sources warn AsiaNews that Christian villages in the Nineveh Plain are at risk. The area is currently controlled by Wahhabi extremists since there is no presence of US or Iraqi troops. In a climate of growing insecurity 40 children in Kirkuk receive their first communion on the day of the Assumption of Our Lady.
The Iraqi premier announces the first in a series of meetings between the country’s political leaders for “today or tomorrow”, with the aim of unblocking the deadlock caused by the withdrawal of 17 ministers. Sunnis warn: “Baghdad risks ending up in the hands of Iran”.
The Security Council unanimously approves resolution 1770: the United Nations will return to aid national reconciliation and dialogue between Baghdad and its neighbours as well as provide humanitarian aid. For over 4 years the UN presence on the round was largely symbolic. The population remains sceptical: it will not heal internal divisions.
Jordan’s government had not let Iraqi refugee children into the kingdom’s schools, largely because they were illegal. Iraq’s ambassador in Amman hopes that this step might solve “one of the Iraqi community's main problems.”
Iraqi sources warn: the city is in the hands of rigid Sunni fundamentalists, who aim for an Islamic State; Christians and Shiites, find no space while the “kidnapping industry” gathers pace. The family of a kidnapped Chaldean has already paid a ransom twice over, but there is still no trace of the hostage.
In his general audience, Benedict XVI underlines that the explosion of joy for the football victory “reveals the people’s desire for a normal life”. A greeting to the Scout Movement which celebrates its 100 years today.
Mgr Louis Sako, archbishop of Kirkuk, challenges the international community over its responsibilities. So far it has failed to lean on Iraq’s neighbours to stop fighters from entering and destabilising Iraq. The announced US arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries won’t stop it either. Arabs should realise that US offensives in Iraq and Afghanistan saved them from Saddam Hussein and the Talibans.
Neighbouring countries are increasingly unable to cope with refugee flow. They fear major economic and social upheaval and ask for help. UN high Commission for Refugees says at least US$ 130 million are needed for immediate action.
US and Iranian positions on Iraq remain far apart, but diplomatic relations between the two archenemies might inch up to a higher level.
Today in Baghdad American and Iranian delegates will meet for a second time. It is a diplomatic encounter, but tensions between the two nations remain high, each blaming the other for the escalation of violence in Iraq.
But the army’s attacks on PKK bases on the other side of the frontier have only been delayed in the wait for an agreed solution with Baghdad and Washington. Great anticipation ahead of tomorrows vote, predicted to be a landslide victory for Erdogan’s AKP, to see if minority parties succeed in breaking the 10% cut off point.
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