Iranian Alert -- September 16, 2003 -- IRAN LIVE THREAD PING LIST

The Iranian Student Movement Up To The Minute Reports ^ | 9.16.2003 | DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

The regime is working hard to keep the news about the protest movment in Iran from being reported.

From jamming satellite broadcasts, to prohibiting news reporters from covering any demonstrations to shutting down all cell phones and even hiring foreign security to control the population, the regime is doing everything in its power to keep the popular movement from expressing its demand for an end of the regime.

These efforts by the regime, while successful in the short term, do not resolve the fundamental reasons why this regime is crumbling from within.

Iran is a country ready for a regime change. If you follow this thread you will witness, I believe, the transformation of a nation. This daily thread provides a central place where those interested in the events in Iran can find the best news and commentary.

Please continue to join us here, post your news stories and comments to this thread.

Thanks for all the help.

DoctorZin

[DoctorZIn]

Discover all the news since the protests began on June 10th, go to:

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[DoctorZIn]

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[Pro-Bush]

Source-icWales, UK

UK protests at Iran embassy attacks
Britain launched a formal protest after shots were fired at the British ambassador's residential compound in the Iranian capital Tehran on Sunday night.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw asked Ambassador Morteza Sarmadi to be invited in to see junior minister Baroness Symons after a spate of recent shooting incidents.

Iran had already publicly condemned the shooting at the compound, which includes the home of ambassador Richard Dalton.

"We harshly condemn this unacceptable attack and will order swift investigations to identify the culprits," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Assefig.

The British Embassy, which is in a separate compound in central Tehran, was hit by five bullets on September 3 and briefly closed.

More shots were fired near the building almost a week later. No one was hurt in either incident.

Prime Minister Blair's official spokesman said tonight that Lady Symons made it clear "that Iran was failing in its obligations to protect the British Embassy and urged the Iranians to conduct a full investigation and bring those responsible to justice".

[PhilDragoo]

Iranian Regime Change Bump

[DoctorZIn]

Will Iran go the North Korea way?

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA Sept.15. Faced with an October-end deadline to prove that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, Iran has reacted angrily and has threatened to review its relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the international nuclear umpire.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Kemal Kharrazi, said soon after the 35-member IAEA board of governors decided that Iran should prove it was not developing atomic weapons by a October 31 deadline, that his country would now have to take a fresh look at its relationship with the agency. "Naturally, we should now decide about our cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," Mr. Kharrazi said in Teheran.

Iran's representative at the IAEA meeting in Vienna, Ali Akbar Salehi, who walked out of the conference just before the resolution was adopted was also blunt in his observations. "We will have no choice but to have a deep review of our existing level and extent of engagement with the agency," he said in a brief statement before leaving the talks. The senior Iranian religious leader, Hashemi Rafsanjani, in an address in Teheran, expressed similar sentiments. Iran's threat to re-examine its relationship with the IAEA has prompted international fears that Teheran could follow the example of North Korea by renouncing international treaty obligations that forbid research in atomic weapons.

Analysts point out the stage is set for a showdown between Iran and U.S.-led industrialised nations, where Teheran will either have to allow a comprehensive IAEA probe of its nuclear facilities or face the prospects of stringent U.N. sanctions.

The IAEA board has decided that Iran should give a "full declaration" of its nuclear programme, to open all nuclear sites for inspection and to accept environmental testing ahead of an agency meeting scheduled for November 1.

In case of non-compliance, Iran's case would be forwarded to the U.N. Security Council where further action against Teheran, including sanctions, can be taken. Iran has been recently subjected to intense international pressure after an IAEA inspection team found traces of enriched uranium which is used for building nuclear weapons, at its nuclear facility in Natanz, in central Iran.

While Iran has denied that it is building nuclear weapons, Teheran's case for building atomic weapons has been well-debated in the Iranian press. Its case for atomic weapons rests on two premises.

First, Iran needs to deter a hostile Israel, which, it is widely believed, has an undeclared atomic arsenal. Second, the possession of nuclear weapons, it is felt, will insulate Iran from possible U.S. military threats. Iran's security situation has been severely compromised after U.S. forces positioned themselves in Afghanistan along its northern borders and in neighbouring Iraq.

Besides, a showdown with the industrialised nations led by Washington on the question of nuclear weapons can help in blunting the sharpening differences between hardliners and reformers inside Iran.

http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/16/stories/2003091601931400.htm

[DoctorZIn]

Canadian FM says he's taking strong line in disputes with Iran, Saudi Arabia

Mon Sep 15, 5:55 PM ET

OTTAWA (AFP) - Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham insisted that Ottawa was "taking strong steps" with the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia over the alleged mistreatment of Canadian citizens in those two countries.

In Iran, Montreal-based photojournalist Zahra Kazemi died July 10 while in police custody after being arrested for taking unauthorized photographs outside Tehran's Evin prison.

Kazemi, a dual citizen of both Iran and Canada, died of a brain hemmorrhage after a blow to the head suffered while in custody, according to an official inquiry ordered by Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (news - web sites).

In Saudi Arabia, Canadian Bill Sampson claims he was severely tortured while in custody and forced to confess to a murder he did not commit.

Sampson was recently released, but only after being sentenced to death by beheading.

Stockwell Day, the foreign affairs spokesman for the right-wing populist Canadian Alliance, claimed in the House of Commons that Kazemi was "wrongly arrested by the Iranian regime and beaten to death ... (yet) our government has not even demand a public apology or restitution to the Kazemi family."

Sampson, said Day, "was wrongly arrested by the Saudi regime and for nearly three years was tortured and beaten almost to the point of death ... (yet) our government has made no demand there for a public apology or restitution to Mr. Sampson."

Day called on the government to expel the Saudi ambassador.

Graham replied: "We are working with the Iranian government. We have taken strong positions with the Iranian government to deal with the Kazemi case.

"We are taking strong steps with the Saudi government to deal with the treatment of Mr. Sampson."

But Graham added he would "not put Canadians at risk abroad by breaking off" diplomatic relations.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030915/wl_canada_afp/canada_saudi_iran_030915215506

[DoctorZIn]

Britain urges Iran to protect embassy

Mon Sep 15, 1:13 PM ET Add Mideast - AFP to My Yahoo!

LONDON (AFP) - Britain urged Iran on Monday to fulfill its "obligations" to protect London's embassy buildings in Tehran after the third shooting incident there in the space of a month, a government spokeswoman said.

Iran's ambassador to Britain, Morteza Sarmadi, was called in to see Baroness Elizabeth Symons, minister with responsibility for Middle Eastern affairs, after shots were fired at one of the embassy's main residential facilities on Sunday.

Symons told Sarmadi: "Iranians have obligations under the (United Nations (news - web sites)) Vienna convention to protect the British embassy", the Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

"(The minister) urged the Iranians to take immediate steps to meet this obligation and conduct an urgent investigation into these shooting incidents," she said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites)'s official spokesman told reporters Symons had made it clear "that Iran was failing in its obligations to protect the British embassy and urged the Iranians to conduct a full investigation and bring those responsible to justice".

Two shots were fired at the main gate of the compound in northern Tehran at 6:10 pm (1340 GMT) on Sunday. Nobody was injured in the shooting, embassy spokesman Andrew Greenstock said on Monday.

Witnesses questioned after the shooting had seen two men on a motorbike fire the shots, he said.

The walled compound, situated on a busy road, is one of the embassy's main residential facilities and a large number of diplomatic staff and their families are housed there.

The main British embassy in the centre of the city was hit by gunmen on September 3, triggering the Foreign Office to authorize the voluntary departure of non-essential members of staff and dependants.

The embassy has since been carrying out "limited functions".

In a second incident on September 9, three to four shots were fired outside the British embassy, sparking an angry diplomatic protest from the mission that Iranian authorities were failing to provide adequate security.

The Iranian foreign ministry insisted the shots were fired "during a police pursuit of a civilian vehicle and had nothing to do with the embassy".

The latest British rebuke comes amid a worsening of relations between London and Tehran over the arrest in Britain last month of a former Iranian ambassador to Argentina, Hadi Soleimanpur.

Anger among religious hardliners in Iran has also mounted since the International Atomic Energy Agency last week issued Tehran with an ultimatum to prove by October 31 that it is not developing nuclear weapons.

Britain, along with the United States, France and Germany, had pushed for a deadline to be imposed on Iran over its civilian nuclear power programme, which Washington believes is being used as a cover to secretly develop atomic weapons.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030915/wl_mideast_afp/britain_iran_diplomacy_030915171337

[DoctorZIn]

US wants Iran to respond to IAEA questions

Mon Sep 15, 7:04 PM ET Add Politics - AFP to My Yahoo!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States called for Iran to honestly answer questions about its nuclear program posed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), amid contradictory statements from Iranian officials about whether it would.

"Confusion is a good word," deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said of the mixed messages emanating from Tehran. "They're saying different things, we're saying the same thing."

"We hope that Iran will see this resolution as an opportunity to respond to straightforward questions in a clear, concise manner, and to take the other steps needed to comply with the (IAEA) resolution," he told reporters.

"Actions speak louder than words," Ereli said. "Let's see them take the actions that are called for."

Last week, the IAEA's governing board gave Iran an October 31 deadline to address concerns about its nuclear program prompting angry responses from Tehran, whose delegation walked out of the meeting in protest.

By that date, the IAEA called for Iran disprove US allegations that it is secretly developing nuclear weapons.

If it does not, US officials have suggested that the IAEA refer the matter to the UN Security Council which could impose sanctions on Tehran.

Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, who led the walkout at Friday's meeting, said afterward that Iran was reconsidering its cooperation with the UN watchdog and might even withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

But his comments were contradicted on Monday when Iranian vice president and atomic energy agency chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh said that Tehran remained fully committed to the NPT despite its objections to the deadline.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030915/pl_afp/us_iran_iaea_nuclear_030915230422

[F14 Pilot]

Iran backs off threat to quit nuclear treaty

Tehran accuses U.S. of 'heavy' tactics

VIENNA Iran made it clear Monday it would not withdraw from an international treaty intended to halt the spread of nuclear weapons, but it accused the United States of strong-arming other nations into setting a deadline for Tehran to clarify its nuclear situation.
.
The Iranian president, Muhammad Khatami, said that his country had no intention of building nuclear bombs, but that it was determined to continue its policy of developing nuclear energy.
.
"We don't need atomic bombs, and based on our religious teaching we will not pursue them," Khatami said in a speech in Tehran.
.
"But at the same time we want to be strong, and being strong means having knowledge and technology."
.
Over the past weeks, Iran had suggested that it might sever its ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency if pressured too hard to increase access to its nuclear programs.
.
Those threats increased after the agency's board of governors adopted a U.S.-backed resolution Friday setting an October deadline for Iran to essentially disprove it is running a covert nuclear weapons program.
.
The board will decide in November whether Iran has met that demand. If it rules Tehran in violation of the treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons it will ask the UN Security Council to get involved.
.
The Iranian vice president, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, accused "partisan politics in the United States" of being behind the "heavy-handed" resolution accepted by the board.
.
But he said his country remained "fully committed" to preventing the proliferation of nuclear arms.
.
Iran's "cooperation" with the agency "shall continue as before," Aghazadeh told the IAEA's general assembly. He also said Iran would start "negotiations with the agency about the additional protocol," that would allow the IAEA thorough and unfettered inspections of all of its nuclear activities.
.
During negotiations that led to passage of a resolution setting the October deadline by the IAEA board, Iran had suggested that it would scrap plans to accept that protocol.
.
Although Aghazadeh's statements eased immediate concerns that Iran would cut ties with the agency, the Iranian vice president suggested his country still could turn more hard-line. He said that a final response was still being discussed by his government.
.
"We are studying the resolution carefully and will respond to it officially in a few days," he told delegates at the 135-nation conference.
.
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, heading the U.S. delegation, welcomed Iran's decision to remain within the agency fold - at least for now.
.
"I hope it represents a decision to fully comply" with the resolution, he told reporters, describing Iran's statement as a "more hopeful comment" than previous threats out of Tehran.
.
The onus was on Iran to prove the world wrong, he suggested because "all of the pattern of action and conduct we've seen is totally understandable," only in the context of a weapons program. If unchecked, Iran could go the way of North Korea, which used its IAEA membership to gain access to nuclear technology only to quit the Nonproliferation Treaty and declare it was making atomic arms, he said.
.
"One cannot let that precedent be repeated," Abraham said.
.
The agency, nuclear watchdog of the United Nations, seeks to ensure compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which aims to ban the spread of nuclear weapons. It monitors the status of nuclear materials in dozens of countries and promotes the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
.
Abraham told delegates attempts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons were challenged by "a few rogue states seeking the capacity to attain weapons of mass destruction."
.
Indirectly linking North Korea and Iran, he urged IAEA member states to "take firm and necessary action" to stop new nuclear weapons states from emerging.(AP, Reuters) Tehran accuses U.S. of 'heavy' tactics

VIENNA Iran made it clear Monday it would not withdraw from an international treaty intended to halt the spread of nuclear weapons, but it accused the United States of strong-arming other nations into setting a deadline for Tehran to clarify its nuclear situation.
.
The Iranian president, Muhammad Khatami, said that his country had no intention of building nuclear bombs, but that it was determined to continue its policy of developing nuclear energy.
.
"We don't need atomic bombs, and based on our religious teaching we will not pursue them," Khatami said in a speech in Tehran.

"But at the same time we want to be strong, and being strong means having knowledge and technology."
.
Over the past weeks, Iran had suggested that it might sever its ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency if pressured too hard to increase access to its nuclear programs.
.
Those threats increased after the agency's board of governors adopted a U.S.-backed resolution Friday setting an October deadline for Iran to essentially disprove it is running a covert nuclear weapons program.
.
The board will decide in November whether Iran has met that demand. If it rules Tehran in violation of the treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons it will ask the UN Security Council to get involved.
.
The Iranian vice president, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, accused "partisan politics in the United States" of being behind the "heavy-handed" resolution accepted by the board.
.
But he said his country remained "fully committed" to preventing the proliferation of nuclear arms.
.
Iran's "cooperation" with the agency "shall continue as before," Aghazadeh told the IAEA's general assembly. He also said Iran would start "negotiations with the agency about the additional protocol," that would allow the IAEA thorough and unfettered inspections of all of its nuclear activities.
.
During negotiations that led to passage of a resolution setting the October deadline by the IAEA board, Iran had suggested that it would scrap plans to accept that protocol.
.
Although Aghazadeh's statements eased immediate concerns that Iran would cut ties with the agency, the Iranian vice president suggested his country still could turn more hard-line. He said that a final response was still being discussed by his government.
.
"We are studying the resolution carefully and will respond to it officially in a few days," he told delegates at the 135-nation conference.
.
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, heading the U.S. delegation, welcomed Iran's decision to remain within the agency fold - at least for now.
.
"I hope it represents a decision to fully comply" with the resolution, he told reporters, describing Iran's statement as a "more hopeful comment" than previous threats out of Tehran.
.
The onus was on Iran to prove the world wrong, he suggested because "all of the pattern of action and conduct we've seen is totally understandable," only in the context of a weapons program. If unchecked, Iran could go the way of North Korea, which used its IAEA membership to gain access to nuclear technology only to quit the Nonproliferation Treaty and declare it was making atomic arms, he said.
.
"One cannot let that precedent be repeated," Abraham said.
.
The agency, nuclear watchdog of the United Nations, seeks to ensure compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which aims to ban the spread of nuclear weapons. It monitors the status of nuclear materials in dozens of countries and promotes the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
.
Abraham told delegates attempts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons were challenged by "a few rogue states seeking the capacity to attain weapons of mass destruction."
.
Indirectly linking North Korea and Iran, he urged IAEA member states to "take firm and necessary action" to stop new nuclear weapons states from emerging.(AP, Reuters)

http://www.iht.com/articles/110062.html

[Pan_Yans Wife]

U.S. sanctions Moscow-owned firm for Iran sales
By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030915-103808-7562r.htm

[DoctorZIn]

Statoil Retains CEO Fjell After Iran Scandal

September 16, 2003
Ample
AFX News

OSLO -- Statoil ASA said its board of directors unanimously backs CEO Olav Fjell to continue in his post after it assessed the impact of a contract with an Iranian consultancy that sparked an official probe.

The company also announced internal reforms designed to improve transparency in its business dealings.

Chairman Terje Loeddesoel said the board agreed that the Iranian contract, with consultancy Horton Investment, should not have been signed, and that assessments made by Fjell prior to the deal were inadequate.

But he added: "After a long and thorough investigation, we have come to the conclusion that (Fjell) is still the person best suited to take Statoil forward."

Loeddesoel added that he apologised to the board for not immediately informing them collectively of the Iran contract.

Finance watchdog officials raided Statoil last week following a press expose of the agreement between the company and Horton.

Fjell reportedly failed to make background checks on the consultancy, while the length and value of the contract - 100 mln nkr over 10 years - were viewed as irregular.

The board also presented a reform plan designed to uphold high ethical standards in the company's future international expansion, including introducing quarterly reporting to the board on all contract developments, external auditing of all existing contracts and a strengthening of the direct line of reporting from the internal auditor to the board.

Statoil will also investigate potential political risks associated with its dealings in in countries with different sociopolitical systems and improve internal training in ethical matters.

It added that it will cooperate fully with the ongoing probe into the Horton contract.

elisabeth.dalseg@afxnews.com

http://iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2003&m=09&d=16&a=1

[DoctorZIn]

Norway Oil Minister Backs Statoil Decision to Keep CEO, Regret Over Iran Deal

September 16, 2003
Ample
AFX News

OSLO -- Minister of Oil and Energy Einar Steensnaes said he backs Statoil ASA's board of director's negative evaluation of the consultancy contract with Horton Investment for services in Iran and Statoil's continued trust in its CEO, Olav Fjell.

"I am now, first and foremost, concerned with both Statoil's own and Norway's economic crime bureau's investigation into this matter and I hope for a swift and positive outcome," Steensnaes said.

He noted that he would have like to have seen a better handling of the contract by Statoil, however, he said the most important issue now is to avoid similar situations in the future.

Steensnaes added that his comments is based on the board's evaluation and the information that has been made available to him.

Statoil decided to scrap the 10-year, 100 mln nkr deal with Horton Investment last week after a raid on its offices by Norway's economic crime bureau. The company is being investigated for possible corruption.

elisabeth.dalseg@afxnews.com

http://iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2003&m=09&d=16&a=5

[DoctorZIn]

Iran Said to Buy Nuclear Technology From British Companies

September 16, 2003
BBC Monitoring Service
BBC Monitoring

Tehran -- Informed Iranian sources told Al-Hayat on Wednesday [10 September] that Tehran had bought nuclear equipment, installations and technology from British companies. The sources did not reveal the names of these companies but pointed out that the purchase took place with the knowledge of British government.

This is the first revelation of British-Iranian cooperation in the nuclear field since the accusations, and US pressure, have always alluded to Russian-Iranian cooperation in building the Bushehr Nuclear Plant. The United States has also hinted at Pakistan's cooperation with Iran.

According to the information received by Al-Hayat, the nuclear cooperation between Iran and British companies comprised of building the Natanz and Arak plants which specialize in enriching uranium after Iran recently acquired this technology.

This information comes at a time when the escalation between Iran and the United States has expanded to include Tehran's relations with members of the European Union. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi strongly criticized western countries and accused them of "extremism and impudence" and trying to wreck the course of cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Kharrazi threatened to rethink the cooperation with the agency after it specified a time limit for Iran to reveal all aspects of its nuclear programme and sign a protocol to allow stricter international inspection of Iranian [nuclear] plants. This accompanied Tehran's decision to suspend talks with Europe regarding human rights which were scheduled for the end of September.

Source: Muhammad Nun -- Al-Hayat, London, in Arabic 11 Sep 03

http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk/newsfile.shtml

[DoctorZIn]

US Accuses Russia of Selling Arms to Iran

September 16, 2003
Middle East Online
middle-east-online.com

WASHINGTON -- The United States on Tuesday accused the Russian government of selling weapons to Iran, a nation Washington considers a "state sponsor of terrorism," but waived sanctions against Moscow in the US national interest.

At the same time, the State Department imposed penalties on a Russian government-owned company that it said had sold laser-guided artillery shells to Iran.

"The United States government has determined that the government of Russia transferred lethal military equipment to countries determined by the Secretary of State to be state sponsors of terrorism," the department said.

"The United States government further determined that, despite the transfers, furnishing assistance to the government of Russia is important to the national interests of the United States," it said in a notice published in the Federal Register.

Sanctions that could have been imposed included a blanket ban on US assistance to Moscow, according to a State Department official who added that the determination had been made on August 25 but not made public until Tuesday.

In the same Federal Register notice, the department imposed sanctions against the Russian firm Tula Design Bureau of Instrument Building (Tula KBP) for selling "lethal military assistance" to the Islamic Republic.

Those sanctions include a one-year ban on all US assistance, contracts and licenses to Tula KBP, the department said.

The United States has imposed sanctions against Tula KPB for arms sales to Iraq and Syria before.

In March, Tula was one of three Russian firms that US officials said had sold Iraq night-vision goggles, anti-tank missiles and satellite-jamming devices.

The United States has made similar charges against Russia in the past and has expressed deep and growing concerns about Russian cooperation with Iran's nuclear program which Washington believes is a cover for atomic weapons development.

The Russian government and the companies have repeatedly denied the charges.

The new determination is not related to Iran's nuclear program, the State Department official said.

The department lists seven nations - Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria and Sudan - as "state sponsors of terrorism." Iraq is in the process of being removed from the list following the US ouster of Saddam Hussein.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=7017

[DoctorZIn]

Iraq's Odd New "Friends"

September 16, 2003
New York Post
Amir Taheri

When first announced a couple of months ago, Iraq's Governing Council was shunned by several Arab states as "non-representative." France, Germany and a few other Saddam nostalics complained of the council's "nondemocratic nature." The United Nations, where fudging matters is a refined art, invited the Governing Council to address the Security Council, but refused to let it occupy Iraq's seat.

Emboldened, all who opposed change in Iraq rushed to attack the council as a "club of quislings." A number of self-styled religious leaders in Egypt and Lebanon even issued "fatwas" forbidding contact with the "unclean" council.

Even some of those who had supported Iraq's liberation complained about of the council's failure to pick a single chairman and its failure to curtail debate and take quick decisions. (Actually, these are positive points. The council has adopted a rotating presidency in contrast to the Iraqi tradition of rule by a strongman. This insistence that all issues should be debated for as long as necessary is also a welcome break from the tradition of one man, or a handful of men, taking quick decisions based on illusions.)

Now, however, the wheel of fortune has turned for the council. In Baghdad, a string of foreign dignitaries wait in line to meet the members of the council or the ministers appointed by them. In some 60 countries, notably including Russia, Iran and Turkey, Iraqi embassies, consulates and legations have already been handed over to people named by the council.

And this month, ignoring some huffing and puffing by one or two members, the Arab League formally welcomed Iraq's interim Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. This week Iraq will regain its seats in the Organization of the Islamic Conference and OPEC.

On the "fatwa" front, the Sheikh of al-Azhar, Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, has expressed support for the council. Tantawi, Egypt's senior theologian, has described as "fools" the mullahs and muftis who call for a boycott of the Iraq Governing Council.

And that is not all. The council has suddenly emerged as the central piece in a strategy that France and Germany are proposing for Iraq.

"We want an immediate transfer of power from the Americans to the Governing Council," a spokesman for the German foreign ministry said.

The French media, reflecting President Jacques Chirac's thinking, are also campaigning for replacement of the American interim administrator Paul Bremer by the Governing Council.

What is the reason for these dramatic changes in attitude?

The most obvious reason is that all those who opposed the liberation of Iraq are now convinced that, despite current problems, there is no possibility of a return of the Ba'athist regime or of a disintegration of the country.

Iraq may have a couple of hard years ahead. But it has all that is needed to become a success story in the medium and longer term. No power interested in the Middle East could afford to stay out of Iraq and sulk.

To enter Iraq right now, however, it is necessary to acknowledge the leading role of the United States. And this is precisely what many opponents of the war wish to avoid. They believe they can circumvent the problem by drawing a wedge between America and the council.

Three models for the transition period are under study:

- The East Timor model, under which the United Nations will declare a mandate on Iraq and run the country until the emergence of a freely elected government.

That model, supported by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, enjoyed some initial support from several members of the Governing Council, notably Adnan Pachachi, himself a former foreign minister of Iraq. Now, however, there is virtually no support for it on the council. Russia and China indicated some support but appear open to other options.

- The second model is Cambodia, where the United Nations worked alongside an existing government.

France and Germany support this model. Roughly, the scenario would run as follows: The U.N. will recognize the Governing Council as the sole representative of Iraqi sovereignty. The Bremer administration will then be transformed into a U.S. aid project in Iraq. The United Nations will then assume control of Iraq in a period of transition. The U.N. representative in Iraq will then fix a timetable for writing a new constitution and holding elections to create a new state and government. (France's candidate for the post: Francois Leotard, the former French defense minister).

- The third model is Afghanistan, where the United States remains in a leadership position alongside the government of Hamid Karzai. The idea is to increase the authority of the Governing Council and let the newly created Council of Ministers assume genuine executive power. The U.S. representatives would then act as an upper chamber of a parliament, retaining an effective veto on key questions until an elected government is in place.

The question for the Bush administration: Is it worth it to expose Iraq to international diplomatic rivalry in exchange for what is bound to be minimal material and military U.N. support?

The only justification for involving the U.N. may have to do with domestic politics. Bush may want to be able to tell voters the U.N. is now on board.

This is precisely why France, Germany and a few others who don't wish Bush re-elected are determined to push the price so high as to make it impossible for Washington to accept without losing control of the situation in Iraq.

The message that Paris and Berlin wish to convey is this: Bush and his "neocons" created a mess, now we enter to save Iraq from destruction.

E-mail: amirtaheri@benadorassociates.com

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/5845.htm

[DoctorZIn]

Iraq's Odd New "Friends"

September 16, 2003
New York Post
Amir Taheri

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/983327/posts?page=15#15

"If you want on or off this Iran ping list, Freepmail me”

[AdmSmith]

RAN'S NATIONAL-RELIGIOUS ACTIVISTS SAID TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR JUNE UNREST.

Tehran Deputy Prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Saberi-Zafarqandi told reporters after the 15 September court hearing of people accused of participating in Tehran's June unrest that the national-religious (melli-mazhabi) group was behind the events, IRNA reported. Mehdi Aminizadeh, Mikail Azimi, Ali Asghar Rahmani-Nejad, Mohammad Rezai, Ali Asghar Sadeghi, and Behruz Tayarani are accused of "acting against national security" and "aiming to disturb the public peace." Furthermore, according to the prosecutor, the six are accused of establishing a nongovernmental organization (NGO) as a cover for the illegal activities of the national-religious activists and of having contacts with the national-religious activists who guided the disturbances via the NGO. Saberi-Zafarqandi said the accused have confessed and requested clemency, and the prosecutor has requested reduced sentences for them because they cooperated during their interrogations and expressed contrition. BS

source: RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 7, No. 176, Part III, 16 September 2003

Comment: Do we have more info on this and these people?

[AdmSmith]

IRANIAN LEGISLATURE'S CLERICS MEET WITH GUARDIANS COUNCIL.

Parliamentarian Assadollah Kian-Ersi, who represents a constituency in Isfahan Province, said clerical members of the legislature met with the Guardians Council on 9 September to discuss the upcoming parliamentary election, "Siyasat-i Ruz" daily newspaper reported on 15 September. Both sides agreed on the need for extensive public participation in the election, with Kian-Ersi saying, "One should try to win the trust of the people in order to increase their motivation for extensive participation in the elections." He added that the two sides discussed the impact of foreign affairs and domestic problems on the public. Both sides also agreed, according to the daily, that "the best way to maintain and strengthen the pillars of the system is to act according to the guidelines of Imam Khomeini (may he rest in peace), and to keep in mind the values and aspirations of the Islamic revolution." BS

source: RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 7, No. 176, Part III, 16 September 2003

[nuconvert]

"the best way to maintain and strengthen the pillars of the system is to act according to the guidelines of Imam Khomeini (may he rest in peace), and to keep in mind the values and aspirations of the Islamic revolution."

Always disturbing to hear stuff like this.

[nuconvert]

"Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham insisted that Ottawa was "taking strong steps" with the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia over the alleged mistreatment of Canadian citizens in those two countries."

The Canadian government has really been disgraceful.
That's why some Canadians are suggesting that if citizens encounter problems in other countries, they go to the British Embassy, not the Canadian Embassy, for help.