News

"We want elections for the liberation of Iraq, not forgery to consolidate the occupation. Al-Ghad newspaper editorial of the 29 September, in reference to the US efforts to present one list of its supporters in the January elections. Al-Ghad, representing the democratic left in Iraq, calls for a united front to contest free elections supervised by international bodies, and for a time-table for the withdrawal of occupation forces from Iraq. Click on Arabic section for text of the editorial.

19 August, Iraqi heroic football team condemn occupation of Iraq.
"Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign," ..."He has committed so many crimes." Click for report.

17 August, Sayed Muqtada Al-Sadr has welcomed the Vatican offer to mediate in Najaf
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano told Italian state radio on Monday that if official mediation were requested, the Vatican would "very willingly" provide it, adding that Pope John Paul II has never declined such requests. "We welcome the initiative of the pope at the Vatican and call on him to intervene to solve the crisis," al-Sadr aide Ahmed al-Shaibany said in Najaf. The senior Christian clerk in Iraq, Patriarch Emmanuel Karim Delli has also welcomed the pope's initiative.

11 August, Iraqi working class flex its mussels, a bad omen for US occupation

Iraqi oil workers in southern Iraq

In a significant development, oil workers in the southern city of Nassiriyah have announced the suspension today of shipments of oil and its products to Baghdad and its surroundings in protest at US assault on Najaf, while their co-workers in Basra did not turn to work. Elsewhere, successful strikes in Baghdad and mass demonstration in Najaf and Nassiriyah, signals that the armed resistance to the occupation is being accompanied by a wider mass movement, with clear political aims for independence and democracy. These developments, the heroic resistance of the Mahdi army fighters in Najaf and their threat to blow oil pipelines in the south (which sent oil prices up again) have perhaps made US forces think again before starting their planned assault on Najaf.

Today's reality: People will not accept an occupying force that killed and tortured thousands of Iraqi's and continues to do so Today's reality: Resistance to occupation is fast expanding, youth celebrate attack on US supply routes in Latifiya, 30 kms south of Baghdad Today's reality: The butcher of Honduras, Negroponte, and his self-proclaimed CIA agent, Ayad Allawi, will attempt to silence the Iraqi people into submission under a new dictatorship. Will they win? Today's reality: large protests in Korea and Turkey. World public opinion continues to put tremendous pressure for end to occupation by USA, British and other forces

"There is no difference, as long as I see American soldiers in front of me, there is no reason to celebrate." "The so called handover of power on the 28th June in secrecy, without celebrations and hidden from the eyes of the Iraqi people is a clear demonstration of the impotence of the occupying authorities and the failure of occupation." These were the words of one leader of the democratic left in Iraq that IDAO has spoken to today. Umm Laila, an Iraqi woman from Baghdad has told a correspondent of Associated Press today "There is no difference, as long as I see American soldiers in front of me, there is no reason to celebrate." Ali Hussein Ali, a retired teacher said as he fingered blue prayer beads and played dominoes with his fellow retirees at a cafe in the Tobchi neighbourhood, "People are afraid to express their happiness, when security prevails, Iraqis will be very happy. They will celebrate when the American troops leave and when they are no longer taking orders from the Americans." "The real date will be when the last American soldier leaves," Qassim al-Sabti, an art gallery owner, told the same Associated press correspondent after learning of the transfer. "Of course I feel I'm still occupied." The Association of Muslim Scholars said Monday's events "deceived the Iraqi people and the world." "If the handover of authority had been accompanied by the withdrawal of the occupation troops, it would have been a proper handover and today would have been a day of festivities for all Iraqis to celebrate," Abdul Sattar Abdul Jabbar, a member of the association, said on Al-Jazeera television. "But what took place, as we've seen, is a formality." US indiscriminate bombings and its mirror image in the terrorists attacks on Iraqis by the so-called Zarqawi groups have not succeeded in masking the widescale resistance to occupation spreading to most areas of occupied Iraq. Alongside the armed resistance to occupation, the popular movement for democracy and general elections is fast assuming a large momentum, echoing the call by Grand Ayotallah Sayed Ali Al-Sistani. The new Tzar of Iraq, Negroponte (see Jim Lobe article ), and his US appointed 'prime minister' have already raised their voices demanding the postponement of elections and imposition of martial law. They will attempt to impose a new dictatorship in Iraq, but it is fast becoming evident that the Bush government is already loosing the battle for the occupation of Iraq, as well as for public opinion in the USA itself. Iraqi democratic forces have become increasingly convinced of the necessity of a democratic front to unite the Iraqi people for democracy and independence. The Iraqi people will also want to control their natural resources and their economy from abuse and theft by the occupation authority. According to USA congress report released today, 'of the $21 billion in Iraqi money, [USA] authorities made commitments for $13 billion and actually spent $8.3 billion' without any information on how this money was spent. The report states that 'The United States spent more of Iraq's money than its own in the first year of reconstruction', with the Iraqi people seeing little of the benefits of this huge amount of spend apart from the destruction of their industry.

29 May, statement by IDAO on the appointment of a 'prime minister' for Iraq
After much deliberations and promises of transferring " full and genuine " sovereignty to a new Iraqi government to take the country forward to a free and fare election next year it was announced yesterday that a former Bathist with no democratic credentials and with strong links to the US and British intelligence services will be the new Iraqi prime minister. Read full statement ...

'End the occupation of Iraq, Freedom for Palestine', March in London 27 September, nearly 100,000 people (15,000 in Police estimates) march in London. The march was organised by the Stop the War Coalition, CND and the Muslim Association of Britain. Similar marches, attended by tens of thousands of people, were held in many cities worldwide, including those in 8 US cities. The marchers in London called for end to the occupation of Iraq, and for the resignation of Tony Blair for his responsibility for 'waging an illegal war based on lies'. IDAO and many other Iraqi organisations took part in the march.

Speakers at the Trafalgar Square rally included representative from many UK political parties, peace campaigners and other political figures. Tony Benn, the veteran left wing labour MP, called for an end to the 'armed robbery of Iraq', referring to the brutal occupation of Iraq and USA attempts to blunder the resources of Iraq.

Dr. Kamel Mahdi, lecturer at Exeter University, an Iraqi economist who returned from Iraq on the day of the march, said: "The USA has been a backer of Saddam Hussain in the past and has created the conditions for the disaster we witness. The fragmentation of the political process under Saddam Hussain's brutal rule, has now turned into a total collapse, with a war on civil society and state institutions". Dr. Mahdi also said "the USA encouraged looting of state property and prevents state institutions from being formed. The USA is working on its colonial plans for Iraq, pushing for the selling of national assets to its own cronies".

George Galloway, the left wing Labour MP, suspended by the labour party leadership, said on UK Prime Minster Tony Blair refusal to discuss Iraq at the Labour party conference: " it is like having an elephant in your sitting room and pretending it does not exist". More details on the Stop the War Coalition Web site.

14 September - Meeting of Iraqi academics paints a bleak picture of the state of Iraq education
A delegation of leading Iraqi educationist on visit to UK painted a bleak picture of the state of Iraqi education as thousands of students begins the new academic year.

A London Meeting, Organized By the Association of Iraqi Academics was told yesterday that Wars, looting, wanton destruction, together with 13 years of economic sanction and neglect by the Baath regime ‚have set back the Iraqi Education System By 15 to 25 years“ according to Dr Najib Ayoub Stipho, vice chancellor of Mansour private university In Baghdad.

Dr Stipho, accompanied By Dr Wail Al Rifaie, vice chancellor of Baghdad technology University are on a visit to the UK education institutions sponsored by the British Council to explain the plight of Iraqi education system and exploring ways of future cooperation.

Some Iraqi academics attending the meeting, expressed the view that many international institutions dealing with issue of education development has adequate funding but are reluctant to participate in projects in Iraq because of the American occupation and the absent of meaningful role for the United Nation.

Further information can be obtained from the Association Of Iraqi Academics at this email address: iraqacademics@aol.com

IFJ Calls for Iraq Probe After Journalist Shot Dead by US Troops: "Casual Disregard" for Media Safety
The International Federation of Journalists has called for an independent and open inquiry into the killing yesterday afternoon of a cameraman in Iraq by US troops, only days after the Federation accused the Pentagon of a ‚cynical whitewash“ over a previous attack on media in which two journalists were killed. More ...

Opening the International Occupation Watch Center in Iraq
A new center is to be opened this September in Iraq to create an ongoing connection between Iraqis struggling for self-determination and the international peace community.
The Center is being created by the USA based: United for Peace and Justice, Focus on the Global South, and the Commission for Arab Resistance to Globalization, among others. More ...

SOAS one day seminar on the war on Iraq, Imperialism and the 'new global order', May 12
IDAO member Hani Lazim joins Dr. Kamel Mahdi from Exeter university and host of other speakers including Chris Nineham from the National Stop the War Coalition to discuss the aftermath of the occupation of Iraq, democracy and the global world movement against imperialism.

How much more proof do we need?
This article is another proof that the US & British Armies were involved in the organised looting which is still taking place since the beginning of this war, spreading to every town and city as soon as the occupying armies take control of any area.
More information

Urgent appeal by the Al Yarmook Hospital of Baghdad
Al Yarmook Hospital is the second largest teaching hospital in Iraq, needs urgent medical supplies. email info@idao.org for further information.

"Day one" of a call to help save the Baghdad Museum
HELP SAVE THE BAGHDAD MUSEUM, an open letter to the global community.

Virgin Atlantic to fly key medical personnel and crucial medical supplies into the heart of Iraq.
Willing medical personnel and water and sanitation experts can register their desire to volunteer their services when the humanitarian routes are opened from this site.
More information

Donations
If you wish to donate money to the Iraqi people, please follow the links below for key aid organisations:
- Unicef
- Save the Children
- Oxfam

Jubilee Iraq
A former Oxford student has launched www.jubileeiraq.org, which is a website championing the call that Iraq's debt should immediately be cancelled upon the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime. Iraq is one of the most heavily indebted countries in the world, and it has become so due to sanctions and the West's reaction to Saddam Hussein. To maintain the debt AFTER Hussein's overthrow would be to punish the Iraqi people for the actions of a dictator. However, this has happened all over the world, and should be prevented from happening in Iraq.
To sign a petition calling for the cancellation of Iraq's debt, visit www.jubileeiraq.org