Iraq
Current Operations
UNAMI
UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UN-Peacebuilding)
Since: 08/03
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EUJUST LEX
European Union Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EU)
Since: 03/05
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USF-I
United States Forces - Iraq (UN-mandated)
Since: 01/10
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Niederlande ziehen Truppen ab (18.01.2005)
(Quelle: FAZ) … Die Niederlande werden Mitte März einen Großteil ihrer im Irak stationierten rund 1350 Soldaten zurückziehen. Die verbleibenden Truppen sollen spätestens acht Wochen später, nach dem Abbau der niederländischen militärischen Einrichtungen im Irak, in die Heimat zurückkehren. Das hat Ministerpräsident Balkenende nach einem Treffen mit Verteidigungsminister Kamp und Außenminister Bot bekräftigt. Das Kabinett werde den Beschluß am kommenden Freitag offiziell fassen, hieß es am Montag in Den Haag.
Wahlkampf im Irak (17.01.2005)
(Quelle: Spiegel Online) In zwei Wochen sollen die Iraker erstmals in freier Wahl über ihr Parlament abstimmen. Doch das wird nicht einfach: 7200 Kandidaten, 9 Wahllisten und 60 Parteien bewerben sich um Posten in der Volksvertretung. Mit großen Namen und einprägsamen Symbolen kämpfen die Parteien um Aufmerksamkeit.
Overseas Iraqis register for vote (17.01.2005)
(Quelle: BBC) Registration is beginning for Iraqis living outside their country who want to vote in this month's election. Voting stations are being set up in 14 countries outside Iraq, including the UK, US and Jordan. Organisers believe about four million exiles and expatriates could be eligible to vote - a possible 10% of the electorate.
U.N. official says Iraqi vote 'is on track' (17.01.2005)
(Quelle: Washington Post) The voting lists have been checked, the ballots printed. Red stain is ready to mark the finger of each voter, and the poll locations and names of candidates - until now secret - soon will be published. Despite threats, a rushed timetable and the murder of eight election workers, preparations for Iraq's elections are almost finished, according to the U.N. representative on the country's elections board. 'Everything is on track,' Carlos Valenzuela, a veteran election organizer for the United Nations, said Sunday.
Iraq unveils poll security plan (15.01.2005)
(Quelle: BBC) The Iraqi government has announced a security plan for the 30 January elections, admitting that voting will be limited in four restive provinces. Measures include declaring a three-day holiday and excluding cars from areas near polling stations, government minister Wael Abdul Latif said. Restrictions would also be imposed on vehicle movements, he said.
Bulgarian, Polish Defence Ministers discuss peacekeeping mission (14.01.2005)
(Quelle: Southeast European Times) Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov met with his Polish counterpart, Jerzy Szmajdzinski, on Thursday (13 January) to discuss joint participation in the international peacekeeping mission in Iraq.
Nato verkleinert Ausbildungskontingent (14.01.2005)
(Quelle: Financial Times Deutschland) Trotz der angespannten Sicherheitslage im Irak erwägt die Nato, ihre Ausbildungsmission im Irak zu verkleinern. Die irakischen Streitkräfte seien mittlerweile in der Lage, selbst für die Ausbildung von Polizei und Militär zu sorgen. Das sagte der Oberbefehlshaber der Nato in Europa, James Jones.
Festhalten am Wahltermin trotz Problemen (12.01.2005)
(Quelle: Spiegel Online) In einem Telefongespräch bekräftigten Alawi und Bush ihre Absicht, den Zeitplan nicht zu ändern, wie ein Sprecher des Weißen Hauses in Washington mitteilte. Zuvor hatte Alawi erstmals eingeräumt, dass wahrscheinlich nicht alle Landesteile sicher genug seien, um den Bürgern die Stimmabgabe garantieren zu können. Dabei handle es sich aber nur um eng begrenzte Gebiete, sagte der Interimsministerpräsident in Bagdad. Der jordanische Botschafter in Washington, Karim Kawar, warnte jedoch, dass mehr als 40 Prozent der Iraker nicht in der Lage sein könnten, ihre Stimme abzugeben.
How U.S. might disengage in Iraq (10.01.2005)
(Quelle: New York Times) Three weeks before the election in Iraq, conversation has started bubbling up in Congress, in the Pentagon and some days even in the White House about when and how American forces might begin to disengage in Iraq. So far it is mostly talk, not planning. The only thing resembling a formal map to the exit door is a series of Pentagon contingency plans for events after the Jan. 30 elections. But a senior administration official warned over the weekend against reading too much into that, saying 'the Pentagon has plans for everything,' … .
Wieder Anschläge auf irakische Polizisten (10.01.2005)
(Quelle: Spiegel Online) Die Anschlagsserie auf irakische Sicherheitskräfte vor den Wahlen hat sechs weitere Polizisten das Leben gekostet. Unter den Opfern sind auch der stellvertretende Polizeichef von Bagdad und sein Sohn.
Prime Minister extends emergency laws ahead of late-January vote (07.01.2005)
(Quelle: The Guardian) Iraq's government extended a state of emergency for another 30 days last night ahead of a security lockdown for the first elections since the US-led invasion. Unprecedented security controls will be imposed for the vote on January 30, including drastic travel restrictions and night-time curfews, in an effort to tackle a growing insurgent campaign of violence.
Statt Ruhe erleben die Iraker nur Terror (07.01.2005)
(Quelle: Die Welt) Auch nach fast zwei Jahren bekommen die USA das Land nicht in Griff. … Alle Zahlen deuten auf eine wachsende Widerstandsbewegung hin, und mit jedem Meilenstein, von dem man sich eine Besserung der Lage erhoffte, etwa die Festnahme Saddam Husseins, scheint die Gewalt nur gewachsen zu sein. … Es gibt keinen Grund, zu hoffen, daß die Gewalt bald wieder abnehmen wird. Es gibt dagegen zwei Gründe, genau das Gegenteil anzunehmen.
Amid tensions, Iraqi leader affirms Jan. 30 vote plan (06.01.2005)
(Quelle: New York Times) Resisting pressure from insurgents and rivals in his own government, Prime Minister Ayad Allawi of Iraq on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to holding nationwide elections here on Jan. 30, while President Bush tried to quash any momentum toward delaying the election by calling Iraq's interim president. The Iraqi president, Ghazi al-Yawar, had expressed his own misgivings about the elections on Tuesday, characterizing the decision to hold them on time as a 'tough call.'
Blistering attacks threaten election (04.01.2005)
(Quelle: BBC) While the world's attention has been on the disaster in Asia, the situation in Iraq has deteriorated so much that the insurgency has developed into near-open warfare. The head of Iraq's intelligence service Gen Muhammad Shahwani now puts the number of insurgents at 200,000, of which 40,000 are said to be the hard core and the rest active supporters.
Syria lets resident Iraqis vote (03.01.2005)
(Quelle: BBC) Syria will allow Iraqis living in the country to cast ballots for the election in Iraq on 30 January. The Syrian government signed an agreement with the International Organization for Migration, which will run an out-of-country voting scheme. … Thirteen similar election centres are planned in other countries with large numbers of Iraqis.
Sunni party pulls out of Iraq vote as doubts grow (28.12.2004)
(Quelle: Washington Post) The largest political party representing Iraq's Sunni Muslim minority announced Monday that it would drop out of the Jan. 30 election, dealing a fresh blow to the vote's credibility on the same day the top Shiite Muslim candidate survived a car bombing. The withdrawal of the Iraqi Islamic Party, combined with the assassination attempt on cleric Abdul Aziz Hakim, heightened concerns that the parliamentary election may produce a lopsided result, further alienating Sunni areas where the armed insurgency is growing.
Foreign Team Will Watch Vote in Iraq From Jordan (23.12.2004)
(Quelle: New York Times) Representatives of seven nations met in Ottawa this week to recruit international observers for the Iraqi elections and agreed to watch the vote, but from the safety of Amman, Jordan.They said it was too dangerous to monitor the voting in Iraq, meaning international observers are unlikely for the elections on Jan. 30 - making them the first significant vote of this sort recently with no foreign presence, United Nations officials say.
Experts to Discuss Iraq Election (20.12.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) A conference to discuss preparations for next month's elections in Iraq is being held in Canada. But the closed-door event is so secret, organisers will not even reveal the identity and number of the delegates. However, it is known that some of those attending the forum are international electoral experts, including a number from Arab countries. … A key issue believed to be under discussion at the Ottawa forum is how international observers can monitor the vote when Iraq has become increasingly dangerous for foreigners.
Iraq Shia Leaders Appeal for Calm (20.12.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Iraqi Shia Muslim leaders have warned against revenge attacks following two bombings in the cities of Najaf and Karbala that killed at least 60 people. The two powerful car bomb blasts are believed to have been carried out by Sunni Muslim insurgents. Respected Shia cleric Mohammed Bahr al-Uloum said Shias - the majority in Iraq - were committed to peaceful participation in next month's election. Officials have warned of an increase in violence ahead of the 30 January poll.
Iraq's Election Is Seen as a 'Jungle of Ambiguity' (18.12.2004)
(Quelle: New York Times) Many of those most closely involved in organizing the elections, including Iraqis, Americans and officials in a small United Nations election team, agree that the elections amount to a high-stakes gamble: one that could end the bitter reverses that have followed last year's invasion, but that could just as easily spiral into chaos, with widespread insurgent attacks on candidates and polling stations, or end in a lopsided victory by Iranian-backed Shiite religious groups that the ethnic and religious minorities, especially Sunnis and Kurds, refuse to accept.
Iraq Election Campaign under Way (15.12.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Political parties in Iraq begin their first official day of campaigning for national elections on Wednesday. … The electoral authorities say some 70 parties have registered to take part, including Sunni Muslim groups which had threatened to boycott the poll. The authorities have just six weeks to prepare for the vote, including in areas where fighting is still raging.
To Delay or Not to Delay Iraq's Elections (13.12.2004)
(Quelle: ISN) Western media have suggested that any postponement or delay in elections would anger Shi'ite political parties. However, the Shi'ites are well aware that an election without Sunni participation would not be interpreted by observers as being all-inclusive and representative of the population. Shi'ite leader Husayn al-Shahristani, who helped create the Shi'ite dominated United Iraqi Alliance list this week, acknowledged to reporters this week that the issue was cause for concern. Al-Shahristani reportedly acknowledged that a staggered election might be necessary to ensure widespread Sunni participation.
NATO to Expand Iraqi Training Mission (10.12.2004)
(Quelle: ISN) NATO agreed yesterday to expand its training mission for Iraqi security forces, but divisions inside the military bloc over the controversial war remain deep, as the US accuses some European allies of undermining the defense alliance's credibility by refusing to participate in the alliance mission ahead of Iraq’s January parliamentary elections. At a foreign ministers meeting yesterday at NATO headquarters in Brussels, alliance ministers voted to increase staff numbers up to 300 at its training mission in Baghdad. But the agreement left out six European countries - Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, and Spain - which have refused to send their NATO officers to help train Iraqi forces.
Iraqi Shias Unveil Poll Coalition (10.12.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Representatives of Iraq's majority Shia community have announced a broad-based coalition of 22 political parties to run in national elections in January. The coalition, backed by leading Shia cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani, presented a list of 228 candidates under the United Iraqi Alliance banner. … A spokesman for the committee that drew up the list said the movement led by radical cleric Moqtada Sadr was not included because it had not registered.
Shiite Groups Agree to Unite for the Election, and Sunnis Register for It (09.12.2004)
(Quelle: New York Times) Iraq's leading Shiite political groups agreed Wednesday to unite under a single banner, a move that could help them win a dominant share of votes in the coming national elections.The agreement came as several Sunni parties, including one that led a broad movement to delay the elections for six months, registered to field candidates.Together, the two decisions appeared to strengthen somewhat the chances of a January vote, despite the continuing violence here and calls by dozens of Sunni parties to postpone the elections.
US Seeks European Troops for Iraq and Afghanistan (09.12.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) US Secretary of State Colin Powell is set to push European nations to commit more forces to Iraq in a Nato meeting with foreign ministers in Brussels. The transatlantic alliance is scheduled to send a contingent to Iraq to train local forces, but some Nato members have refused to take part. The outgoing secretary of state is also asking for more troops for Afghanistan. The US has offered to place two provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) under Nato command in the country as long as European Nato allies supply two more such teams.
Putin gegen Irak-Wahl unter US-Besatzung (08.12.2004)
(Quelle: Der Spiegel) Russlands Präsident Putin hat scharfe Kritik an den im Irak geplanten Wahlen geübt. Er könne sich nicht vorstellen, wie diese unter 'fremder Besatzung' organisiert werden könnten. Putin sagte ferner, er erwarte, dass die Interessen russischer Firmen beim Wiederaufbau des Irak berücksichtigt würden.
Verschiebung der Wahl im Irak gefordert (05.12.2004)
(Quelle: Die Welt) Angesichts der anhaltenden Gewalt im Irak plädierte der UN-Sondergesandte Lakhdar Brahimi für eine Verschiebung der für Ende Januar geplanten Wahl. Sollte die Stimmabgabe auf die ruhigeren Landesteile beschränkt bleiben, würde die sunnitische Minderheit in Krisengebieten wie Falludscha ausgeschlossen, sagte Brahimi der niederländischen Zeitung „NRC Handelsblad“.
Iraqi President Backs January Elections (02.12.2004)
(Quelle: Washington Post) Interim President Ghazi Yawar, a Sunni Muslim tribal sheik, added his influential voice Wednesday to calls for national elections to be held in Iraq as scheduled on Jan. 30, placing him at odds with a number of Sunni parties concerned that violence in their political heartland will make voting there impossible. …But his stature in Iraq's uneasy Sunni minority, which wielded decisive power in Saddam Hussein's government, may convince Sunni leaders threatening to boycott the election that the vote will likely take place with or without them.
US to Raise Troop Levels in Iraq (02.12.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) US forces in Iraq are being bolstered to their highest-ever level in the run-up to next month's election. Some units are having their tours extended to cover the expansion, amid fears that violence will increase in the weeks before the vote. The US is expanding overall troop numbers by 12,000, to reach 150,000 - more than actually invaded the country.