Al-Zaman newspaper carried a report on a statement by Tawfiq al-Yasiri, head of the security and defence committee at the National Assembly, noting that the deputy speaker is still under arrest despite the interior minister's decision to set him free. Al-Yasiri says the minister had ordered that he be released because the arrest was illegal. (Al-Zaman 29 Nov 04)

Al-Bayan newspaper carried an article criticizing the phenomenon of writing "political slogans" on walls. The writer believes that these slogans do not "attract" people's sympathy, and have no effect on people's "ideological orientation". (Al-Bayan 29 Nov 04)

Iraqi government invites former regime officials to join political process: Saudi Arabia's Al-Watan newspaper web site on 28 November carried a report saying the Iraqi government had contacted former regime officials residing abroad through mediators, to say they wanted them to participate in the country's political process. The paper said these former officials included Sa'dun Hammadi, speaker of the National Assembly of the former regime; Salah al-Mukhtar, former Iraqi ambassador to India; Muhammad al-Duri, former Iraqi envoy to the United Nations, as well as Izz-al-Din al-Majid, the brother of Saddam Husayn's son-in-law. The paper cited observers saying that the Ba'th Party was believed to be reorganizing and active in several cities, including Al-Ramadi, Ba'qubah, Mosul and in parts of Baghdad. (Al-Watan web site 28 Nov 04)

Group threatens Iraqi Communist Party: A statement posted on an Islamist web site on 28 November and addressed to "the apostate candidates of the Iraqi Communist Party," threatened to annihilate the party's members, "one by one". The statement on the Al-Izah forum at www.alezah.com was allegedly issued by the Mujahidin of the Iraqi Peninsula in the Zab and Al-Huwayjah regions. It said: "We are not asking you to withdraw from the elections. Whether you withdraw or not, your end, God permitting, is near because we know who among you are elected as candidates to lead your clear unbelief. We shall annihilate you, one by one, and we will make your names public in the next few days." (Jihadist web site www.alezah.com 28 Nov 04)

Al-Ittijah al-Akhar newspaper on 27 November published a report citing a source at the Special Criminal Court responsible for the former President Saddam Husayn and his aides' trial as saying that former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and other former leaders may be released soon for lack of evidence on their involvement in criminal acts. The source added that two of the charges against Saddam Husayn, which were the use of force in suppressing the 1991 uprising and the use of WMD against Kurds, were dropped. (Al-Ittijah al-Akhar 27 Nov 04)

Labour no-show obstacle to Al-Fallujah reconstruction - US: The US military faces a problem in reconstructing Al-Fallujah as Iraqi contractors and labourers fail to show up for work, AFP news agency reported on 29 November. The news agency cited military officials saying that even a signed contract was no guarantee the labourers or contractors would turn up. "We're trying to clear rubble from the street but we've been stood up (by contractors) for the last three or four days. We're frustrated with that," one marine officer said. AFP quoted Lt-Col Scott Ballard, the Marines' operations officer for civil-military affairs in Al-Fallujah, saying that contractors had been scared off working for the US through intimidation. He said willing Iraqis had started to come forward as fighting in the city dwindled, however. "We are starting to see the wheels turn. If security is maintained the contractors will stay," he said. The US military said a "Green Zone" had been created in Al-Fallujah's northwest corner, where contractors will work under the guard of US and Iraqi troops. (AFP 0413 gmt 29 Nov 04)

Al-Ufuq published a report citing Industry Minister Hajim al-Hasani as saying that he will head the Al-Fallujah reconstruction committee. (Al-Ufuq 28 Nov 04)

Al-Bayan newspaper cited an official source at the Interior Ministry as saying that more than 10,000 criminals involved in organized crimes such as lootings, murder and others have been arrested. The report cites a police officer in Basra as saying that his forces arrested eight people who were trying to smuggle 325 kg of Hashish into Kuwait. (Al-Bayan 28 Nov 04)

Al-Mashriq newspaper published an article criticizing the Iraqi Government for not "caring for children's suffering" because of the military actions, especially the use of "frightening" aircraft. It says that the sounds of bombing and explosions leave a "devastating influence" on the personality of children. (Al-Mashriq 29 Nov 04)

Al-Mashriq runs on page 4 a 100-word report citing Maysan Health Director as saying that "rabies has spread widely in Maysan Governorate, causing the death of 17 people, with 400 infected." The director adds that his directory is unable to control the disease. (30 Nov)

Al-Furat newspaper published a report on a statement by well-informed sources in Al-Nasiriyah Governorate noting that two sites for radioactive materials had been discovered in the governorate. The sources add that these two sites are linked to the increase in cancer cases in the governorate. (Al-Furat 28 Nov 04)

Al-Da'wah published a report citing Radiation Prevention Centre Director Bushra Ali Ahmad as saying that the centre has "controlled radiation pollution in Iraq, after conducting a number of surveys with the help of the World Health Organization." (Al-Da'wah 28 Nov 04)

Iraqi commander in Basra refuses to step down after dismissal: "Commander of the National Guard in Basra rejects an order from the interim defence minister dismissing him from his post," Al-Jazeera TV reported on 30 November caption in a screen caption. (Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1135 gmt 30 Nov 04)

Iraq has lost 7bn dollars from oil sabotage - minister: Iraqi Oil Minister Thamir Ghadban has said that Iraq lost 7bn dollars between August 2003 and the end of October 2004 as a result of sabotage operations targeting oil installations and pipelines, the London-based Arabic-language Al-Hayat newspaper reported on 29 November. Ghadban told Al-Hayat: "The sabotage operations have witnessed a tangible and worrying increase." He added that the Iraqi Oil Ministry is moving ahead with its programmes and work plans and that it has agreed several contracts with foreign companies to develop the Farmalah oil field extending from the main Kirkuk oil field. The ministry will soon sign contracts with other foreign firms to develop the Humrin oil field in the north. (Al-Hayat 29 Nov 04)

Al-Dustur publishes on page 2 a 100-word report citing an official source at the Oil Ministry as saying that Oil Minister Thamir al-Ghadban has left for China to discuss the participation of Chinese companies in the rehabilitation and development of the oil and gas sector in the country. (30 Nov)

Al-Mu'tamar publishes on the front page a 400-word report citing Oil Minister Thamir al-Ghadban informing the newspaper about his ministry's short term and long term development plans. Al-Ghadban affirmed that "our priority is to complete the reconstruction of facilities in order to increase oil production." (30 Nov)

Oil supply pipeline blown up south of Baghdad: An oil pipeline supplying the Al-Musayyib Power Plant with oil, south of Baghdad, was blown up on 30 November, Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV reported. Mu'ayyad al-Shammari, official in charge of the power plant oil supply, said that unidentified persons blew up the supply pipeline running from Karbala, 3 km from Al-Musayyib, after which a fire broke out. The TV said Al-Shammari was unable to assess the repercussions of the sabotage operation on the production of the power plant, which it said was considered one of the biggest power plants in Iraq. (Al-Sharqiyah, Baghdad, in Arabic 1303 gmt 30 Nov 04)

Al-Zaman newspaper carried a report on a statement by navigation sources in southern Iraq noting that Iraqi oil exports through the southern ports had reached 1.5 million barrels per day. The sources noted that good weather had contributed to this improvement. (Al-Zaman 29 Nov 04)

Bombs hit northern Iraq oil pipeline, stop 80 per cent of oil flow: Two explosions hit an oil pipeline in northern Iraq on 29 November, disrupting the flow of oil there, AFP news agency reported, citing an official from the oil plant there. Majid Mannun, chief engineer for the Baiji plant, said the targeted pipeline connected the Baiji and Dura refineries some 200 km north of Baghdad. He said the first explosion went off at around 0840 local time (0540 gmt); the second ten minutes later, reducing the flow of oil by 80 per cent. He added that the refineries provided power to large swathes of northern and central Iraq, but could not say for how long the flow would be disrupted or whether it would affect power supply in the region. (AFP 1252 gmt 29 Nov 04)

4,000 Iraqi guardsmen protect Kirkuk oilfields, wells: Volunteers from the Iraqi National Guards have undertaken the task of protecting the oil wells and oil pipelines located in Kirkuk and Bayji along an approximately 110-km-long area, Al-Sharqiyah TV reported on 29 November. The station quoted Maj-Gen Anwar Hamad Amin, chief of the National Guards in Kirkuk Governorate, as saying that two batches of 2,000-strong National Guards had begun safeguarding the security of oil fields and major and secondary pipelines connecting Kirkuk with Bayji on 23 November. He said the move was made following the escalation of attacks on oil wells and fields during the past few weeks. (Al-Sharqiyah 1000 gmt 29 Nov 04)

Explosion hits southern oil pipeline; exports not affected: An explosion on a pipeline in southern Iraq on 28 November caused a fire and disrupted the flow of oil from wells in Rumaila field towards the Basra terminal, AFP news agency quoted an oil company official as saying. Iraq's Southern Oil Company said the cause of the explosion was being investigated but exports through the south, which are around 1.8m barrels a day, were unaffected. (AFP 2003 gmt 28 Nov 04)

Al-Bayan cited Oil Minister Thamir al-Ghadban urging the staff of the Iraqi Oil Well Drilling Company to develop their capabilities in order to play a major role in the future drilling development plans. (Al-Bayan 28 Nov 04)

Al-Mashriq newspaper cited Oil Minister Thamir al-Ghadban as saying that his ministry "has prepared a plan to drill more oil wells using modern equipment." (Al-Mashriq 28 Nov 04)

Al-Sabah al-Jadid reported on the "incredible increase" in the prices of oil products in Iraq. (Al-Sabah al-Jadid 28 Nov 04)

Al-Mu'tamar publishes on the front page a 100-word report stating that the National Assembly will host today Electricity Minister Ayham al-Samarra'i to discuss the massive shortage in electricity supply in the country. (30 Nov)

Al-Ufuq publishes on the front page a 250-word editorial saying that "ages after the discovery of fire and 20 months after their liberation, Iraqis are still sitting in darkness and feeling cold." The editorial criticizes the government for failing in providing electricity and fuel in the country. (30 Nov)

Al-Sabah al-Jadid newspaper published an editorial commenting on the "crisis" of the shortage of fuel and electricity in Iraq. Zayir says that this is the aim of "terrorists," who are trying to "stop our life in the name of resisting the occupation." (Al-Sabah al-Jadid 29 Nov 04)

Al-Bayan newspaper carried a report citing an official of the Industry and Minerals Ministry as saying that the ministry had "rented" a number of Turkish power generators to operate the Iraqi cement factories. (Al-Bayan 29 Nov 04)

Al-Mada newspaper reported on a statement by an official source at the Electricity Ministry noting that the Ministry has signed a contract with a Syrian electrical company to establish a power station in Samarra. The official says the power station will cost 38 million euros and will generate 51 megawatts. (Al-Mada 28 Nov 04)

Al-Bayan publishes on the front page a 200-word report citing Ra'ad Abd-al-Jalil, director general of the Dams and Reservoirs Directorate, as saying that the Turkish huge storage capacity dams have a massive impact on the Tigris River's water supply and agriculture in Iraq. (30 Nov)

Al-Mashriq newspaper carried a report citing the water resources minister as saying that his ministry has developed a "scientific plan" to encourage foreign investment in Iraq. (Al-Mashriq 29 Nov 04)

Al-Adalah carried a report citing Environment Minister Mishkat Mu'min as saying that drinking water in Iraq is "free from pollution." The report also cites an Environmental Coordination and Consultation Council official as saying that the council "is studying how to get rid of dangerous garbage that is spread all over Iraq." (Al-Adalah 28 Nov 04)