Sewer Improvements Started in Mosul Suburb
A $625,000 sewer system will bring improved sanitation and health conditions to more than 700,000 of Mosul's 1.5 million residents.
Pre-positioned pipe and marked trench lines will replace the open sewer. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers file photo)
By Claude D. McKinney - Gulf Region North
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
MOSUL, Iraq, Oct. 31, 2005 — By next spring, Al-Zharaa, a suburb of Mosul, will have a below ground, pipe-enclosed sewer system installed to replace the surface flow system operating today. Workers are digging the first 1.5 kilometers of trenches and pipe is pre-positioned to make this modernization a reality.
The replacement system will bring improved sanitation and health conditions to more than 700,000 of Mosul's 1.5 million residents.
Additionally, this project, overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region North, will stimulate the economy by bringing $625,000 to the city in the form of worker salaries, supply requirements and other services associated with construction projects.
"This new sewer will go a long way to improve the living conditions of the citizens of Mosul," said Lee Kenderdine, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mosul office resident engineer. "It is this type of reconstruction project that shows the common citizens of Iraq that a better life is coming."
This type of major civic project is coordinated and directed in partnership with local Iraqi officials.
Editor's note: Claude McKinney is a public affairs specialist at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region North.
Further terror attacks 'thwarted'From correspondents in London
02-Nov-05
BRITISH forces had thwarted attempts to carry out more terror attacks since the July 7 London bombings and a botched bid to repeat them on July 21, the capital's police chief said in remarks published today.
"The security service and the Met have prevented other attacks in the last few weeks," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said in an article in The Sun newspaper.
"The sky is dark. Intelligence exists to suggest that other groups will attempt to attack Britain in the coming months," he said.
Sir Ian said it could take weeks or months to understand material that was found.
"One case involved an encrypted computer, which was the equivalent of 60,000 feet of paper. Was there a vital clue in there somewhere? Yes, but we were fortunate that it was pretty near the beginning, otherwise we would never have found it within the current time limit."
He said police chiefs were united in supporting an extension of detention for terrorist suspects to 90 days, if officers were to defeat those planning further carnage.
The issue is to be debated again in the House of Commons this week, with opponents urging Home Secretary Charles Clarke to drop the proposal to hold terror suspects for up to 90 days without charge.
Sir Ian said detention must have rigorous scrutiny by a judge every seven or 14 days, to confirm that continued detention was appropriate.
The victims of the July 7 bombings in London were remembered at a national memorial service yesterday with a renewed call to respect all human life in the face of indiscriminate violence.
About 2300 people, led by the Queen and Prime Minister Tony Blair, attended the service at St Paul's Cathedral, with thousands more watching outside and in Trafalgar Square on giant screens.
But relatives of some of the 52 victims of the worst terror attack on British soil stayed away, expressing anger at a lack of practical support and adequate compensation from the Government since the atrocities.