Iraqi authorities seek EU help: "BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - European Union foreign ministers were looking Monday for ways to offer "concrete help" to Iraq's new government in rebuilding the country, two weeks after the United States handed over power in Baghdad."
In Fresno Bee: Iraq
Iraqi president threatens insurgents with 'very sharp sword': "BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer threatened Monday to use a "very sharp sword" to fight insurgents and anyone else threatening the security of the country."
In Fresno Bee: Iraq
Marine who vanished in Iraq to return home: "BERLIN (AP) - The U.S. Marine who mysteriously vanished in Iraq and reappeared in Lebanon nearly three weeks later is doing better in a U.S. military hospital in Germany and will likely return home within a few days, officials said Monday."
In Fresno Bee: Iraq
Baghdad professor inundated with books after request: "JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) - Biology professor Safaa Al-Hamdani wasn't expecting an avalanche of books when he asked colleagues at Jacksonville State University to help his alma mater in Baghdad restock its libraries."
In Fresno Bee: Iraq
Blair government criticized by ex-spy chief: "LONDON (AP) - A former intelligence chief expressed concern Monday about the relationship between Prime Minister Tony Blair's government and its spy agencies in the build up to the war in Iraq."
In Fresno Bee: Iraq
Iraqi captors of Filipino hostage extend deadline: "MANILA, Philippines (AP) - The Philippines - still hoping a kidnapped Filipino trucker driver will be released - rejected demands Sunday of the hostage takers for an early troop withdrawal from Iraq."
In Fresno Bee: Iraq
France, Iraq re-establish diplomatic ties: "PARIS (AP) - France and Iraq have restored diplomatic relations that were severed 13 years ago during the Gulf War, the French Foreign Ministry said Monday."
In Modesto Bee: Iraq
British government to see Iraq inquiry report Tuesday: "An inquiry into flawed British intelligence on Iraq ahead of the war will present Prime Minister Tony Blair's government with its final report on Tuesday, a day ahead of official publication, a government spokeswoman said. (AFP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Iraq report focuses blame on CIA: "Two days before Christmas 2002, with war in Iraq less than three months away, an intelligence analyst at the Department of Energy e-mailed a colleague to complain that the CIA was squelching dissent from those who doubted that Iraq was trying to import uranium and other nuclear weapons components. (USATODAY.com)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Shiite party official killed in Iraq: "Gunmen killed the head of a regional office of one Iraq's largest Shiite parties in a drive-by shooting south of the capital, police officials said Monday."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Iraqi government to offer amnesty to insurgents: "LONDON (AP) - Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer said his government will soon offer an amnesty to those who have fought against the U.S.-led coalition, a British newspaper reported Monday."
In Fresno Bee: Iraq
Fear Factor in
Sharon invites Labor Party into coalition: "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday invited the moderate Labor Party into his shaky coalition, and both sides said they expect to agree on a partnership relatively quickly."
In Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Hearing today for soldier accused in prison abuse scandal in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror
Amnesty in Iraq?...Bush to Tennessee...Debate on gay marriage ban in Katu.com: Iraq & Terror
Kidnappers silent over three foreigners facing death in Iraq: "A dark veil hung over the fate of three lorry drivers from the Philippines and Bulgaria held hostage in Iraq as deadlines for their execution expired without word from their abductors. (AFP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
South Korean airports on alert after e-mailed warning: "Security was tightened at South Korean airports after an e-mailed warning that an Islamic militant linked to Al-Qaeda may board a plane bound for the country, officials said. (AFP)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Blix Made Last-Minute Plea to Blair on Iraq -Paper: "Former U.N. arms inspector Hans Blixpleaded with British Prime Minister Tony Blair for more time tofind weapons of mass destruction before the U.S.-led invasionof Iraq, the Financial Times reported on Friday. (Reuters)"
In Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Iraq-Syria Border Security Talks: "From the AFP via the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) :
Iraq and Syria have agreed to work together to improve border security to try to stop foreign militants infiltrating Iraq."
Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Barham Saleh, says there is agreement on " the necessity to cooperate to prevent [insurgents] from crossing the border ".
Mr Saleh was speaking after meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
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Mr Saleh said Mr Assad spoke of his " interest in the stability " in Iraq, which shares a long desert border with Syria, and said joint Interior Ministry committees would look into setting up security mechanisms.
Last week, a British newspaper quoted Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari as saying his government had gathered information from intelligence services showing support by some neighbouring countries for the insurgents.
Mr Zebari did not name the foreign powers, but the Sunday Telegraph quoted "senior Iraqi officials" as indicating " that Iran and Syria were the worst offenders ".
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Last week Mr Assad and Iranian President Mohammad Khatami made a joint call for the rapid departure of foreign troops from Iraq.
" This force is in Iraq at Iraqi request. Its departure at this stage would not be useful either for Iraq or for the region. It would be a catastrophe for security ," Mr Saleh said.
In Command Post: Irak
Cleric faces new attack over visit: "The visit of a controversial Muslim cleric has provoked a storm of protest over his views on women and homosexuality."
In Ananova: War In Iraq
