Iraq

The Iraqi government is trying by every means to coax former Saddam officials back into the fold. Those who worked for governmental bodies the US dismantled in 2003 can now get new postings or a pension. Syria’s assistance has been requested but it might already be too late.

Various attacks hit Shia pilgrims yesterday, the worst in Hilla where at least pilgrims died on their way to the holy city of Karbala. Iraqi PM pins blame on Saddam’s followers for trying to fuel sectarian violence.

Ahmadinejad’s arrival in Riyadh tomorrow is part of intensifying diplomatic activities by regional leaders to find solutions to the Lebanon and Iraq crises. Changes to US attitude and visit by a US assistant secretary to Damascus are playing a role.

As happened with the nuclear question, different factions of the regime are making their voice heard in a debate which is largely domestic. Meanwhile the head of the Pasdaran has threatened Iraqi Kurds: we could neutralize them even beyond our borders.

Washington’s decision to participate in talks with Damascus and Teheran for the stabilization of Iraq could lead to the unblocking of peace negotiations between Israel and Syria and also influence the Lebanese crisis.

News about delay is reported in Iraqi paper but has not been officially confirmed. Baghdad and Ankara, the referendum’s main opponent, agree on a later date. Issue will likely be discussed when Kurdish president talks to Turkish leaders in upcoming meeting.

Kurds agree to split oil revenues among the country’s 18 provinces. Draft law now goes before parliament for approval. Profits sharing agreements will give 20 per cent of oil revenues to foreign companies; 80 per cent to Iraq.

Health scare is caused by “extreme fatigue” and “dehydration."

A spokesman of the President Jalal Talabani has defined the exit strategy as a stimulus to make the Iraqi forces take responsibility for national security. The White House reads the move as a mark of the success of the coalition strategy while opponents of Bush are pointing to London’s break away from US policy.

An interview with Mgr Jacques Isaac, Chaldean auxiliary bishop of Baghdad and rector of Babel College: hardships will not kill the Church, every day we live the Passion of Christ but dying with him also means resurrecting with him. Masses are crowded and so are catechism and pre-marriage courses. He mentioned the support of the pope, who “prays for Iraq every day”.

After launching an alarm over the pending humanitarian crisis, the UN welcomes the US decision. Hitherto Iraqi refugees had caused frictions between Washington and Geneva. Since the beginning of the war the US has only admitted 463 Iraqi refugees.

The borders with Syria and Iran will soon be shut down and blanket telecommunications monitoring will start. New security measures are said to have prompted the radical Shiite leader to fly. The US says he has gone to Iran but his collaborators deny this.