http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/04/08/206164.html
The man in the video, posted on a website linked to Saddam’s now-outlawed Baath party, was introduced as al-Douri and bore a striking physical resemblance to the former Saddam deputy. He noted that nine years had passed since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, suggesting the video was made recently.
“Al-Douri wants to spread terrorism and sectarian violence under the pretext of resistance,” he said. “This will not affect the work of the government or the political process.”
Al-Moussawi said al-Douri is still a wanted man, but that he doubts that al-Douri is still in Iraq because his need for extensive medical care in a well-equipped clinic would make it impossible to hide.
Also Saturday, a bomb hidden in a plastic bag blew up on a minibus, killing two passengers and wounding nine in Baghdad’s commercial heart of Karrada, according to police and hospital officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Deadly attacks have declined in Iraq in recent weeks, but dozens are still killed every month. March saw the lowest monthly toll for violent deaths since the 2003 U.S.-invasion.
Top Saddam deputy appears in new video, lashes out at Iraqi government
Sunday, 08 April 2012
A video posted online Saturday purports to show Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the highest ranking member of Saddam Hussein’s ousted regime still at large, lashing out against Iraq’s Shiite-led government.It was not possible to verify the authenticity of the video or determine when it was made.
The man in the video, posted on a website linked to Saddam’s now-outlawed Baath party, was introduced as al-Douri and bore a striking physical resemblance to the former Saddam deputy. He noted that nine years had passed since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, suggesting the video was made recently.
Wearing an olive military uniform and eyeglasses, he criticized Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government, led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and what he said was meddling by neighboring Shiite powerhouse Iran.
“Everyone can hear the sounds of danger echoing daily and threatening this country,” he said during the hour-long address, adding that al-Maliki’s Dawa Party “has announced Iraq as the Shiite capital, and called on all Arab leaders to surrender to this reality.”
He also criticized the Arab governments that backed the government and accused them of treason and conspiracy against Iraqi insurgents who fought against the U.S. military after the invasion. U.S. officials have accused him of organizing the insurgency.
“Nine years have passed since the invasion and occupation and these corrupt traitors have turned their backs on the heroic Iraqi resistance,” Douri said.
He also warned Sunni Arab countries over what he called the “invasion of Safavid” - an apparent reference to Shi’ite Muslim Iran’s growing influence over Iraq’s government, in a region increasingly divided along a Sunni-Shi’ite faultline.
“We put it before your eyes and in your hands, the Safavid Persian enemy today stands at the doorstep,” he said.
Al-Douri has been reported dead or captured more than once in the past. He has not been seen in public since the U.S.-led invasion, though audio tapes purporting to be from him have been released. His whereabouts are not known.
Al-Douri is believed to have played a key role in financing Sunni insurgents seeking to undermine Iraq’s post-Saddam government. He was the “king of clubs” in the deck of playing cards issued by the U.S. to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam’s regime.Ali al-Moussawi, a media adviser for al-Maliki, said the tape is meant to “boost the morale of the terrorists.”
“Everyone can hear the sounds of danger echoing daily and threatening this country,” he said during the hour-long address, adding that al-Maliki’s Dawa Party “has announced Iraq as the Shiite capital, and called on all Arab leaders to surrender to this reality.”
He also criticized the Arab governments that backed the government and accused them of treason and conspiracy against Iraqi insurgents who fought against the U.S. military after the invasion. U.S. officials have accused him of organizing the insurgency.
“Nine years have passed since the invasion and occupation and these corrupt traitors have turned their backs on the heroic Iraqi resistance,” Douri said.
He also warned Sunni Arab countries over what he called the “invasion of Safavid” - an apparent reference to Shi’ite Muslim Iran’s growing influence over Iraq’s government, in a region increasingly divided along a Sunni-Shi’ite faultline.
“We put it before your eyes and in your hands, the Safavid Persian enemy today stands at the doorstep,” he said.
Al-Douri has been reported dead or captured more than once in the past. He has not been seen in public since the U.S.-led invasion, though audio tapes purporting to be from him have been released. His whereabouts are not known.
Al-Douri is believed to have played a key role in financing Sunni insurgents seeking to undermine Iraq’s post-Saddam government. He was the “king of clubs” in the deck of playing cards issued by the U.S. to help troops identify the most-wanted members of Saddam’s regime.Ali al-Moussawi, a media adviser for al-Maliki, said the tape is meant to “boost the morale of the terrorists.”
“Al-Douri wants to spread terrorism and sectarian violence under the pretext of resistance,” he said. “This will not affect the work of the government or the political process.”
Al-Moussawi said al-Douri is still a wanted man, but that he doubts that al-Douri is still in Iraq because his need for extensive medical care in a well-equipped clinic would make it impossible to hide.
Also Saturday, a bomb hidden in a plastic bag blew up on a minibus, killing two passengers and wounding nine in Baghdad’s commercial heart of Karrada, according to police and hospital officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Deadly attacks have declined in Iraq in recent weeks, but dozens are still killed every month. March saw the lowest monthly toll for violent deaths since the 2003 U.S.-invasion.
and the Kurds are kicking up sand presently as well....
Iraq’s political woes deepened after the arrest warrant issued in December against Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, a Sunni, accused of running a death squad.
The meeting must come up with “radical solutions... specific timeframe to exit the crisis,” Barzani added.
If the meeting failed “we will take another decision,” he warned, in reference to the possible secession of Kurdistan.
“This is not blackmail or a threat. I’m serious. I will put a referendum to the Kurdish people. Whatever the price, we will never accept a return to dictatorship in Iraq,” Barzani said, referring to Saddam Hussein whose iron-fist rule was staunchly criticized by Iraqi Kurds.
Tensions are high between Iraqi Kurds and Maliki, a Shiite, mainly over the distribution of nation’s oil wealth.
Iraqi Kurdish leader accuses country’s PM of ‘dictatorship’ again
Sunday, 08 April 2012
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is monopolizing power and preparing the ground for a return to dictatorship, Kurdish leader Massud Barzani charged in an interview published on Sunday.
“Iraq is moving towards a catastrophe, a return to dictatorship,” said Barzani in the interview published in pan-Arab newspaper, Al-Hayat, adding that it was “unacceptable” that Maliki was also Iraq’s “defense minister, interior minister, intelligence chief and commander of the armed forces.”Barzani, who was received at the White House on Wednesday, said on his return to Arbil he would call a meeting of Iraqi leaders to “save” Iraq which is facing a political crisis.
“Iraq is moving towards a catastrophe, a return to dictatorship,” said Barzani in the interview published in pan-Arab newspaper, Al-Hayat, adding that it was “unacceptable” that Maliki was also Iraq’s “defense minister, interior minister, intelligence chief and commander of the armed forces.”Barzani, who was received at the White House on Wednesday, said on his return to Arbil he would call a meeting of Iraqi leaders to “save” Iraq which is facing a political crisis.
Iraq’s political woes deepened after the arrest warrant issued in December against Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, a Sunni, accused of running a death squad.
The meeting must come up with “radical solutions... specific timeframe to exit the crisis,” Barzani added.
If the meeting failed “we will take another decision,” he warned, in reference to the possible secession of Kurdistan.
“This is not blackmail or a threat. I’m serious. I will put a referendum to the Kurdish people. Whatever the price, we will never accept a return to dictatorship in Iraq,” Barzani said, referring to Saddam Hussein whose iron-fist rule was staunchly criticized by Iraqi Kurds.
Tensions are high between Iraqi Kurds and Maliki, a Shiite, mainly over the distribution of nation’s oil wealth.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar