LCCC NEWS BULLETIN
JANUARY 27/2006
Below News from the Daily
Star for 27/1/06
Hamas: A reality Israelis, Americans and Europeans
will have to accept
Hamas pummels Fatah in Palestinian parliamentary polls
Security concerns top Rice and Hariri's agenda
UN begins talks with Lebanese leaders over nature of
Hariri tribunal
Lebanon allows Egypt to mediate in its dispute with Damascus
Hamas victory increases pressure for disarmament
U.S., U.K., French ambassadors snub Lahoud invite
Cabinet holds sixth session without Shiite ministers
Hariri aims to extricate Lebanon from regional
conflict
Baabda election will see new political alliances
Geagea calls for uncontested Baabda-Aley by-election
MPs submit proposal to rehabilitate Riyaq Airport in
bid to develop Bekaa Valley
Fatfat: Hizbullah has not been abandoned by March 14
Forces
EDL deficit set to reach $1 billion this year
Lebanese business opposes tax hike
Below News from miscellaneous
sources for 27/1/06
UN
peacekeepers to stay in Lebanon until July 31-Reuters 27.1.06
Hamas - Hezbollah: "A Constructive Ambiguity". By: Hazem Saghieh Al-Hayat -
26/01/06
Friends of slain MP Hariri appeal for investigation-Reuters 27.1.06
Hariri in US, to see Bush tomorrow
By: Youssef Hourany -(AsiaNews)
26 January, 2006 -The meeting will focus on Lebanese crisis. Nabih Berri levels
harsh criticism at the government. Prime Minister Siniora will be in Amman
tomorrow then fly to Cairo. Beirut (AsiaNews) – Saad Hariri, head of the Future
Party and son of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who was murdered on
February 14 last year, will meet US President George W. Bush in the White House
tomorrow. He held talks with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today.
His meetings are being closely watched by Lebanese political observers,
especially in light of developments in the region, in particular in Lebanon
itself, Syria and Palestine. In Lebanon the ongoing political crisis—triggered
by Shiite cabinet ministers’ boycott—has not yet been resolved.
In an interview with the al-Jazeera TV network, Lebanese National Assembly
Speaker Nabih Berri slammed the government and its main backers Walid Jumblatt,
Samir Geagea and Saad Hariri for their alleged failure to back the
Egyptian-Saudi attempt to re-establish fraternal relations between Lebanon and
Syria. Speaking from the United States, Saad Hariri said he had full confidence
in the future of Lebanon, saying that the “only way to lead the country out of
its crisis is to engage in a constructive dialogue with Hezbollah and Amal.” He
urged Shiite ministers to go back and take their place in the cabinet. He also
praised Hezbollah for its sacrifices, reiterating everyone’s desire to reject
the language of war and violence.
Hariri also insisted that the Lebanese-Syrian border must be clearly demarcated
and criticised Syrian President Basher al-Assad for his statements before the
Arab Bar Association in Damascus last Saturday in which the latter rejected this
process [border demarcation] and blamed certain Lebanese leaders for the spate
of terrorist attacks that have occurred in Lebanon since October 2004. Instead,
Hariri accused the Syrian government “of masterminding all these acts of
violence with Assad’s full knowledge.”On the eve of his departure for Jordan
where he is scheduled to meet King Abdallah II and his Jordanian counterpart
Maaruf al-Bakhit, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told AsiaNews that his government
“was fully ready to co-operate with any Arab initiative”. He rejected charges
levelled at him and Saad Hariri’s Future Party for scuttling the reconciliation
deal with Syria brokered by Saudi King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak.
After his Amman visit, Siniora will travel to Cairo where he will meet Mubarak
and Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif.
Today, at a reception for the diplomatic corps in post in Beirut led by the
apostolic nuncio, Mgr Luigi Gatti, Lebanon’s President Émile Lahoud renewed his
appeal to the international community to remain “neutral” in the ongoing crisis.
UN legal expert arrives in Beirut over Hariri probe
Jan 26, 2006,© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Beirut - A top United Nations legal expert arrived Thursday in Beirut to discuss
calls by the Lebanese anti-Syrian opposition for the establishment of an
international court to try those responsible for the murder of former prime
minister Rafik Hariri.
Nicolas Michel, under-secretary general for legal affairs, is in Beirut to help
'Lebanese authorities to identify the scope of the international assistance
needed', UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric was quoted as saying in New York
Wednesday.
Hariri was killed by a February 14, 2005 car bomb in Beirut. A UN inquiry has
implicated Syria and pro-Syrian Lebanese officials in the assassination, but no
one has been formally charged.
UN sources in Beirut said Michel was due to stay in Lebanon until Saturday and
meet with Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and Justice minister Charles Rizk, as
well as the international and Lebanese investigators.
The call to establish an international tribunal into the killing has sparked a
political crisis in Beirut, with the pro-Syrian Shiite ministers of Amal and
Hezbollah accusing the opposition government of internationalizing the probe.
The visit by Michel comes just days after Serge Brammertz, the new chief of the
UN probe into the Hariri assassination, officially took up his post in the
Lebanese capital.
Under Brammertz' predecessor, German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, the probe found
'converging evidence' of Syrian and Lebanese intelligence involvement in the
Hariri assassination.
Meanwhile, Lebanese pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud called Thursday for
Lebanon to restore its traditionally strong ties with Syria and renewed support
for Lebanese and Palestinian 'resistance' to Israel.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Friends of slain MP appeal for investigation
26 Jan 2006 12:28:54 GMT
BEIRUT, 26 January (IRIN) - Family and friends of assassinated Lebanese
newspaperman and MP Gebran Tueini urged the authorities this week to launch an
official investigation into the murder.
"We want an investigative magistrate to be appointed as soon as possible," said
MP and lawyer Butros Harb, an associate of Tueini. "It can't go on like this."
Tueini, editor-in-chief of prominent independent daily Al-Nahar and vocal
anti-Syrian rights advocate, was killed on 12 December 2005 in the capital,
Beirut.
An initial military investigation into the murder led to the arrest of a Syrian
national in late December. The suspect has yet to be charged, however, as no
magistrate has been appointed to the case. "The investigation is frozen because
the military magistrate has to pass the case on to the judiciary to continue
investigating and judge the case," explained Harb. "The problem is that
magistrates' appointments are made by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is
currently paralyzed."
The supreme council consists of eleven judges appointed by the president, in
consultation with leaders of the country's many sects. Shortly before Tueini's
death, however, several judges reached retirement age.
Until now, consensus has yet to be reached on their replacement.
"The leaders are not agreeing on names," said a source at the justice ministry,
which holds official authority over the council. "But I can assert that a
decision will be taken very soon."
Tueini's widow, Siham Tueini, addressed hundreds of students at Beirut's
Martyrs' Square on 23 January to mark the passing of 40 days since her husband's
death.
"I wish to know why. Why this neglect and why so late?" she said. "What have
they been doing for the past 40 days?" she asked, in reference to the judicial
authorities.
The assassination of Tueini was the fourth political killing to be blamed on
Syria by Lebanese politicians and activists. Damascus has denied the charges.
A spate of car bombs and assassinations began with the killing of former Prime
Minister Rafik Hariri on 14 February, followed by anti-Syrian journalist and
intellectual Samir Kassir and former Secretary-General of the Communist Party
Georges Hawi. An independent UN inquiry is currently investigating the Hariri
murder.
Syrian troops entered Lebanon in 1976, one year after the beginning of the Civil
War, which lasted until 1990. Damascus enjoyed de facto rule over the country
until last April, when they withdrew their troops and intelligence apparatus
under international pressure.
Moving Toward Democracy
By BILL FRIST -January 26, 2006 http://www.nysun.com/article/26557
The New York Sun: A year ago this month, a car bomb killed the former Lebanese
prime minister, Rafic Hariri. An ongoing U.N. investigation has implicated the
Syrian government in the murder. The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, may have
played a personal role. Several additional high-profile bombings have occurred
in the last several months.
Enough is enough: Syria's actions in Lebanon have proven that it has no desire
to play by the rules of civilized nations. Now, the United States and its
partners need to ramp up the pressure on Damascus. We need to push Syria away
from its homegrown brand of Arab fascism and toward democracy, peace, and an
authentic end to its interference with Lebanon's affairs. We should start by
increasing and expanding our funding for prodemocracy groups in Lebanon and
Syria. In the coming Congress, I plan to support legislation that will do just
that.
During my travels in Lebanon last year, I visit the late prime minister's grave
and met with many of the political opposition leaders who rallied to end the
overt Syrian occupation of Lebanon. These leaders have the support of the
Lebanese people and at least some Syrians. Now, they need assistance from the
international community.
Those who favor Syrian democracy have a difficult task. Since it invaded Lebanon
in 1976, the government in Damascus has earned a place for itself on the roll
call of the world's most dangerous regimes. The Assad regime funds terrorists,
supports groups seeking to undermine the Israeli-Palestinian peace process,
seeks weapons of mass destruction, and maintains a domestic police state based
on the same fascist Baath ideology that animated Saddam Hussein's regime. Along
with its ally in Iran, Syria funds Hezbollah bases in Southern Lebanon that the
terrorist group uses to launch rocket attacks against Israel. Syria has also
allowed Al Qaeda fighters to enter Iraq through its territory.
Despite the withdrawal of its regular military forces last year, Syrian
intelligence agencies remain deeply involved with Lebanon's government, banks,
and commercial enterprises. Prime Minister Hariri worked hard to end this
interference in his nation's affairs. Like many others, he paid for these
efforts with his life.
To honor his memory and restore full Lebanese sovereignty, the U.S. has to
broaden its efforts in Syria. Since 2003, we have maintained a tough set of
sanctions and restrictions on Syria that have helped isolate the nation.
Increased funding for pro-democracy groups isn't enough by itself, however, and
sanctions work best when they involve more than one country. To begin with, we
need to redouble our efforts to force Syrian cooperation with U.N. investigators
and bring Hariri's murderers to justice. And if Syria fails to respond and won't
comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions, we need to press our allies to
also place tough sanctions on Damascus.
Our allies in Europe have a stake in this effort, and the Bush administration
should look for ways to strengthen our partnership with them. The European Union
remains Syria's largest trade partner, sends foreign aid to Syria, and has yet
to label Hezbollah a terrorist group. The Assad regime interprets this sort of
half-hearted diplomacy as a sign of weakness: It's unlikely to modify its
behavior as a result.
In the long term, I am convinced that the Syrian and Lebanese population will
move their own nations toward democracy if given the chance. Without strong
international backing, it may take decades for real change to happen. With
support from the international community, however, we can compel Syria to
disentangle itself from Lebanon's affairs, move toward democracy, and eventually
take its rightful place in the community of nations.
Dr. Frist is majority leader of the United States Senate.
Hamas - Hezbollah: "A Constructive Ambiguity"
Hazem Saghieh Al-Hayat - 25/01/06//
"Hamas" movement is adopting an American principle dubbed in Washington as the
"constructive ambiguity". It will not negotiate with Israel in the event it
comes to power, and does not oppose the negotiations therewith by those who are
willing to negotiate. If one of its leaders, Ismail Hanieh, used lenient
rhetoric denoting moderation and flexibility with respect to enforcing the
Sharia [Islamic legislation] and religious teachings, another one of its
leaders, Mohamed Al Zahar, expressed a very radical point of view on the same
subject. With the ongoing elections Hamas is engaging in, the ambiguity reaches
its peak. The reason is that the movement, which will become part of the
Palestinian legislative authority, and probably executive too, does not
explicitly state that it will not disarmed for the sake of the PA's unity. After
all, it will be a part of an authority that will endeavor to weaken it by
subduing its monopoly of violence, and surely of the decision of war and peace,
as well as of the foreign and diplomatic relations, as alluded by the recent
meeting of Damascus with the Iranian President Ahmedinejad.
Such an ambiguity is similar to the current status of "Hamas" swaying between
the religious and the political, between the military and the parliamentary, and
basically between remaining a part of the problem and starting as a part of the
solution. If the ambiguity is not cleared, Hamas shall embrace, as Hezbollah
did, this myth, or at least heresy, which states that institutions should adapt
to the forces, people, and agendas as required by the institutional practice,
inevitably and exclusively, by adapting the forces, people, and agendas to
institutions.
Hezbollah's ambiguity had reached an unprecedented peak that is manifested in
its present stance as a non-governmental governmental party. But the latest
innovations of "Hezbollah" in this respect is merging the Fatwa with both the
political and constitutional life, rather tending to separate the second from
the first as though they are of the same nature. Although this is not totally
new in Lebanon, the novel aspect is that the binding issue of the Fatwa tackles,
this time, the participation in the Cabinet! In addition of gaining the support
and approval of forces residing in the broad political realm of Metn.
The head of "the Mount Amel Ulemas Committee," [religious body], Sheikh Afif
Nabousli, issued his Fatwa, forbidding therein "any Shiite political party to
enter as a substitute and alternative for the representatives of Amal [movement]
and "Hezbollah" because [his entry] would be illegal". In the explanation of the
Fatwa, "whoever enters as a substitute and alternative does not represent the
people's reality and does not possess the required legal authority".
A number of intellectuals and daring activists considered such a Fatwa a worthy
cause to legally prosecute its deviser, since it entails "an illegitimate
tutelage with respect to an issue that pertains to a political report and free
conduct. The Sharia cannot decide or assess whatever is stipulated by the
Lebanese laws defining the rights and obligations of the citizens or organizing
their religious affairs and its institutions. It also generally promotes
disrespect of the legal borders, as though we were in a temporary camp or in a
border strip or in several nations"
However, Sheikh Nabulsi received the "broadest solidarity" from the Secretary
General of "Hezbollah" Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who considered that legally
trying the Sheikh and asking him for accountability as "an attack on the Ulemas
of Islam." Nasrallah's opinion was shared by the Head of the Higher Islamic
Shiite Council Sheikh Abdel Amir Kabalan, Mr. Mohamed Hussein Fadlallah, the
Head of the Parliament Nabih Berri, and of course "the General Legal
Representative in Lebanon of the Iranian Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Imam
Khomeini, (This is part of his official title) Sheikh Mohamed Yazbeck. In the
meantime, as always, "attacking Ulemas" was condemned. Moreover, it was noted
that "this campaign is waged by embassies seeking to burn Lebanon". Similar
allegations were made against "the blatant foreign interferences in the Lebanese
affairs and the vibrant activities of some ambassadors." It is not unlikely that
secular leftist voices will be raised to eagerly meet imperialism midway, then
together make their plea in defense of the Fatwa, to draw the polical aspect
therefrom.Each one who has been gently touched by enlightenment is thrown by
this "constructive" ambiguity before a fatal clarity meant to be unseen.
UN peacekeepers to stay in Lebanon until July 31
25 Jan 2006 23:57:51 GMT
UNITED NATIONS, Jan 25 (Reuters) - U.N. Security Council members have agreed
that U.N. peacekeepers should keep monitoring the Israeli-Lebanese border for
another six months, a key diplomat said on Wednesday.
Lebanon had asked for the U.N. mission's mandate in the border area to be
renewed for an additional year, until Jan. 31, 2007. But the 15 council members
instead reached consensus on an extension until July 31, 2006, said Tanzanian
U.N. Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, the council president for January.
The mandate of the 2,000-strong U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL,
will expire Jan. 31 unless renewed by the council. A vote on a resolution
prolonging the mission is expected Monday or Tuesday, council diplomats said.
While the mission has been in place since March 1978, a draft resolution
circulated by France on Wednesday would emphasize "the interim nature" of the
mission and stress the council was "looking forward to the early fulfillment of
its mandate."
The draft would also urge Israel and Lebanon to put an end to violations of
their shared border and renew appeals to Lebanon's government to extend its
authority across the south, to prevent attacks on Israel from its side of the
border.
The 15-nation council and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan have regularly
pressed the Lebanese government to assert control over the south since Israel
pulled out of the region in May 2000, ending 22 years of occupation.
After the Israeli withdrawal, the militant group Hizbollah came to dominate the
area, profiting from a power vacuum there. Hizbollah guerrillas have since
sporadically clashed with Israeli forces.
The council and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan have been urging the Lebanese
government to disarm Hizbollah, in line with a September 2004 council resolution
demanding that all foreign militias on Lebanese soil be disbanded.
But Hizbollah has refused to do so and last year joined the Lebanese government
after a landslide victory in June parliamentary elections.
Amal, Hezbollah ministers to not take part in Cabinet
meeting
BEIRUT, Jan 25 (KUNA) -- Amal movement said Wednesday that its ministers and
those of Hezbollah will not take part in the Cabinet's meeting tomorrow unless
the government affirms that "the resistance is not militia," said a senior
member of Amal Hasan Qabalan. He told a TV station that the government's
ministerial statement did not say that the resistance was not militia.
Five ministers of Amal movement have suspended their participation in the
Lebanese 24-ministers cabinet when the government asked the UN last month to
expand its investigations and to form an international court to look into the
assassination of late Premier Rafiq Hariri. In the meantime, the US ambassador
in the Lebanese capital described the UN Security Council's resolution 1559, of
being of utmost importance and a sign for the Lebanese people on the sound
international support for Lebanon. For his part, Lebanese Communications
Minister Marwan Hamadah, who met with the ambassador, said that the resolution
was an international consent on backing the independence of Lebanon.
The resolution urged both Damascus and Beirut to make more efforts to disarm
Hezbollah and the Palestinian camps.
UN fresh pressure on Beirut to disarm Hezbollah
(Reuters) 25 January 2006 NEW YORK — A unanimous UN Security Council put fresh
pressure on Lebanon on Monday to disarm the Hezbollah group, in line with a
council resolution adopted 16 months ago. A council statement also urged Lebanon
to conduct free and fair presidential elections without outside interference,
and called on Syria to take measures to stem the flow of arms and people across
its border into neighbouring Lebanon. Syria last year withdrew its troops from
Lebanon, after years of politically dominating it, as required by the council’s
Resolution 1559, adopted in September 2004. But Lebanon has not yet ordered
Hezbollah militias to disarm.
Israeli Druse accused of passing information to
Hezbollah
By: Associated Press -Published: January 25, 2006
An Israeli Druse man was indicted Tuesday on charges that he illegally crossed
into Lebanon and gave sensitive information to Hezbollah guerrillas there. Jamil
Abu Salah, 23, of the northern Israeli village of Ein al-Asad, gave Hezbollah
information about his hometown and other villages, even drawing a map of the
area, according to the indictment filed in the Haifa District Court. Abu Salah
also told Hezbollah about two relatives who serve in the Israeli police and
prison departments, according to the court. Abu Salah agreed to give more
information and maps to Hezbollah when he returned to Israel, the indictment
said. Abu Salah's family said Hezbollah held him hostage for 10 months and he
had no information to give them. They accused Israel of not doing enough to help
Abu Salah. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon, has provided
money and arms to Palestinian militants and occasionally attacks Israel over the
Lebanese border. Most members of Israel's Druse minority, who adhere to a
secretive offshoot of Islam, serve in the army and support the state.
Abu Salah allegedly entered Lebanon last February through the village of Ghajar,
which is divided between Israel and Lebanon, police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld
said. Upon entering Ghajar, he signed a police document promising not to enter
Lebanon, the indictment says. "He went abroad on his own actions and he made
contact (with Hezbollah)," Rosenfeld said. "He was involved in transferring
information to the enemy." He was arrested in December after he returned to
Israel.
Abu Salah's family said he was mentally unstable after a breakup with his
girlfriend when he entered Lebanon. They said he went looking for help at a
Beirut police station and was turned over to Hezbollah, which held him for about
10 months. His father, Salah, said he notified police when his son left home
last February because the family worried about him. Israeli security sources
later told them that Abu Salah was in Lebanon, Salah Abu Salah said. "We were
upset because the state didn't do anything to save him," he said. Salah Abu
Salah said his son feared for his life, and didn't have anything important to
tell Hezbollah.
Must-See Hezbollah TV: Part IV
The MEMRI Report- By STEVEN STALINSKY
January 25, 2006
On November 29, Al-Manar TV hosted and covered a live symposium at Lebanon's
largest and only government-run university, Universite Libanaise. A student of
political science, Hisham Sham'as, said, "Just like Hitler fought the Jews, we
are a great Islamic nation of jihad, and we too should fight the Jews and burn
them." When another student, Mahmoud Fakhri, called for Israel "to be wiped off
the map," he asked the Al-Manar moderator if his statement was "too inciting."
He answered, "Go ahead and incite. This is what we're looking for."The French
ban on Al-Manar for incitement against Jews in December 2004 enraged the Arab
world. A spokesman for the Committee for Solidarity with Al-Manar, Ghaleb
Qandil, said, "All the talk about anti-Semitism is meaningless nonsense ... we
Arabs are Semites, the offspring of the 'Khazar' Jews will not be the ones to
judge how Semitic we are." The Lebanese Foreign Ministry issued a statement
explaining Al-Manar is "anti-Zionist, not anti-Semitic," while President Lahoud
of Lebanon called the charges of "anti-Semitism" an attempt "to mislead
international public opinion." As Lebanese government officials made such
claims, Al-Manar aired a program about Jews spreading AIDS throughout the world.
Français / English
Reporters sans frontières
Communiqué de presse
26 janvier 2006
IRAK
Un nouveau journaliste tué à Ramadi : le 79e dans le pays depuis le début de la
guerre en mars 2003
Mahmoud Zaal, un cameraman irakien travaillant pour la chaîne de télévision
diffusée par satellite Baghdad TV, a été tué, le 24 janvier 2006, à Ramadi, au
cours d'un affrontement entre l'armée américaine et un groupe d'hommes armés.
Reporters sans frontières déplore la mort de Mahmoud Zaal et demande aux
autorités irakiennes et aux forces américaines de mener une enquête.
"Nous ne trouvons plus les mots pour exprimer notre indignation face au drame
que vivent les journalistes en Irak. Les conditions de travail des
professionnels de la presse sont de plus en plus difficiles et dangereuses et
les chiffres sont très inquiétants : quatre professionnels des médias ont été
tués en moins d'un mois. Nous demandons aux forces américaines présentes lors
des affrontements qu'une enquête rapide et approfondie soit menée afin
d'identifier les origines des tirs qui ont entraîné la mort du journaliste," a
déclaré Reporters sans frontières.
Le 24 janvier, Mahmoud Zaal a été tué par des tirs croisés alors qu'il filmait
une attaque des insurgés contre deux immeubles occupés par les forces
américaines. La chaîne de télévision Baghdad TV, propriété du Parti islamique
irakien (sunnite) a affirmé qu'elle se renseignait sur les circonstances de la
mort de son cameraman. L'armée américaine a déclaré qu'elle allait également
ouvrir une enquête.
Par ailleurs, Nagham Abou Zahra, présentatrice sur la chaîne irakienne Al
Sharkiya, s'est jetée du deuxième étage de l'immeuble où elle réside pour
échapper à un groupe d'hommes masqués qui tentaient de la kidnapper après avoir
pénétré chez elle par effraction. La présentatrice a survécu à la chute mais
souffre de nombreuses fractures.
A ce jour, Mahmoud Zaal est le 79e professionnel des médias tué en Irak depuis
le début de la guerre en mars 2003, et le quatrième en moins d'un mois.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IRAQ
Another journalist killed in Ramadi, the 79th killed in the country since March
2003
Reporters Without Borders today strongly condemned working conditions for
journalists in Iraq after yet another journalist, Iraqi TV cameraman Mahmoud
Zaal, working for the satellite station Baghdad TV, was killed on 24 January in
a clash between US troops and armed men in Ramadi. It called on Iraqi and US
authorities to investigate. Zaal was the 79th journalist to die in Iraq since
fighting began in March 2003,
The worldwide press freedom organisation said it was "becoming ever harder and
more dangerous for journalists and media staff to work in Iraq and the toll is
very worrying, with four media workers killed in less than a month. We urge US
troops involved in this clash to make a thorough and speedy enquiry to determine
whose gunfire killed the journalist.
Zaal was caught in crossfire as he filmed an insurgent attack on two buildings
occupied by US troops. Baghdad TV, owned by the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party, said
it was looking into his death, as did the US army.
Nagham Abou Zahra, a presenter on the Iraqi TV station Al Sharkiya, meanwhile
jumped out of a second-floor window of her apartment building to escape a group
of masked gunmen trying to kidnap her after breaking into her home. She survived
the fall with many fractures.
Maghreb & Middle-East Desk
Lynn TEHINI
Reporters Without Borders
5 rue Geoffroy-Marie
F - 75009 Paris
33 1 44 83 84 84
33 1 45 23 11 51 (fax)
middle-east@rsf.org
www.rsf.org