US bombs Iraqi town: report
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Reports from Iraq say United States forces have carried out bombing raids on the northern town of Tal Afar, near the Syrian border.
The US military say the town is being used as a staging post by foreign fighters crossing into Iraq from Syria.
Air strikes were reportedly launched on a neighbourhood suspected of being under the control of insurgents.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari says the Iraqi and coalition forces are determined to "eliminate terrorists and foreign fighters" in the area, "and they will continue to pursue this endeavour to the end".
"We are taking additional measures to ensure security and stability in Tal Afar and to restore its people's rights," he added.
Mr Jaafari also said that the Government had decided to ramp up security controls along the border with Syria: "We have tightened security on the border between (the northern province of) Nineveh and Syria."
The US military had announced on Thursday that US-led forces were preparing to launch a military offensive to root out insurgents from Tal Afar, where entire neighbourhoods are in the hands of rebel groups.
Around 215 "terrorists" have been killed or captured in Tal Afar by US-led forces during the past eight days, according to US military statements.
"The Iraqi Government and humanitarian agencies have established temporary housing, food and medical care for those citizens" displaced due to the unrest in Tal Afar, Mr Jaafari said.
Meanwhile, the printing of the draft constitution has been delayed, reportedly with new amendments to accommodate demands of disenchanted Sunni Arabs to ensure the Arab identity of Iraq.
The Arab League also pledged to open a representative office in the war-torn country.
The United Nations, which is in charge of printing some five million copies of the new constitution to distribute to Iraqi families before the scheduled referendum, said it has not yet received the final text.
-AFP
Link Here
UN raises alarm over death squads, torture in Iraq
The United Nations has raised concerns about mounting violence in Iraq blamed on pro-government militias and urged the authorities to look into reports of systematic torture in police stations.
[FULL STORY]
Reports from Iraq say United States forces have carried out bombing raids on the northern town of Tal Afar, near the Syrian border.
The US military say the town is being used as a staging post by foreign fighters crossing into Iraq from Syria.
Air strikes were reportedly launched on a neighbourhood suspected of being under the control of insurgents.
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari says the Iraqi and coalition forces are determined to "eliminate terrorists and foreign fighters" in the area, "and they will continue to pursue this endeavour to the end".
"We are taking additional measures to ensure security and stability in Tal Afar and to restore its people's rights," he added.
Mr Jaafari also said that the Government had decided to ramp up security controls along the border with Syria: "We have tightened security on the border between (the northern province of) Nineveh and Syria."
The US military had announced on Thursday that US-led forces were preparing to launch a military offensive to root out insurgents from Tal Afar, where entire neighbourhoods are in the hands of rebel groups.
Around 215 "terrorists" have been killed or captured in Tal Afar by US-led forces during the past eight days, according to US military statements.
"The Iraqi Government and humanitarian agencies have established temporary housing, food and medical care for those citizens" displaced due to the unrest in Tal Afar, Mr Jaafari said.
Meanwhile, the printing of the draft constitution has been delayed, reportedly with new amendments to accommodate demands of disenchanted Sunni Arabs to ensure the Arab identity of Iraq.
The Arab League also pledged to open a representative office in the war-torn country.
The United Nations, which is in charge of printing some five million copies of the new constitution to distribute to Iraqi families before the scheduled referendum, said it has not yet received the final text.
-AFP
Link Here
UN raises alarm over death squads, torture in Iraq
The United Nations has raised concerns about mounting violence in Iraq blamed on pro-government militias and urged the authorities to look into reports of systematic torture in police stations.
[FULL STORY]
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 6:49 PM
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