Iraq’s Media Coverage of the Mosque Bombing v. Non-Iraqi Coverage

The full summary follows: “OVERNIGHT PAN-ARABIC & REGIONAL IRAQI TELEVISION NEWS REPORT AS OF 0600, 26 February, 2006 Intent: This product is intended to provide information and situational awareness regarding the nightly news/early morning (from 2000 to 0600) broadcasts that are influencing Iraqi opinions and perceptions. Stations monitored are Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Al Sharqiya, Al Fourat, and Al Iraqiya. Executive Summary: Overnight broadcast news was slow and focused mainly on repeating early evening stories, such as Al Sadr meeting with Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) officials, the attack on the funeral procession of the slain Al Arabiya journalists, and the extension of the curfew. Details regarding the meeting at the Iraqi prime minister’s house of leading Iraqi figures did emerge, and it appears it was a productive gathering for building national unity. Curfew. Al Iraqiya reported throughout the night that the vehicular curfew had been extended in Baghdad from 6 am to 6 pm on Sunday, and that no vehicles are allowed to enter Baghdad during this time. Meanwhile, Al Sharqiya mentioned that Iraq has postponed the purchase of 1.5 million tons of wheat because of the curfew. Iraqi Leaders Meet. Al Iraqiya provided live coverage of a meeting at Prime Minister Al Jaafari’s residence between Iraqi government officials, Iraqi politicians, and leading clerics from all groups. The meeting lasted three hours, and the participants discussed how to ensure the current situation does not worsen into sectarian strife. The gathering finished with a joint prayer in which all participated. Al Sadr And AMS. Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya reported that Muqtadah Al Sadr and his supporters met with AMS leadership to absolve the Sadrist movement of any connection with attacks on Sunnis or Sunni mosques. The two sides held a joint press conference in which they blamed the “occupation” for the country’s current problems and called for a timetable for when the occupation would withdraw from Iraq. The meeting ended with a joint prayer. US Ambassador Says Risk Of War Diminished. Al Jazeera reported Ambassador Khalilzad said during a lengthy interview (not sure with whom) given on Saturday that there is still danger in Iraq, but the risk of war has been greatly diminished. He also added that America is ready to help Iraq in any manner and that Iraq’s failures are America’s failures too. Miscellanous. Al Fourat aired many protest images, and concentrated heavily on the female presence in the demonstrations, something our nightly monitor said was rare, as women are not normally seen in such processions with men. Meanwhile, Al Arabiya continued to focus heavy coverage on the death of its three journalists and their 25 February funeral procession that was attacked. AL-IRAQIYA: — The curfew remain for Sunday starting 6am until 6am on Monday but for only cars and it’s going to be no vehicles coming to or leaving from Baghdad. — Aljaafari hold a meeting in his house with talibani and with the presence of US ambassador and top political leaders and after three hours meeting jaafari said:” The only enemy Iraqis have is terrorism , there is no Sunnis against Shiites, All or most expressed the importance of accelerating the political initiative without any delay”. Sunnis politician who had pulled out of talks before attend the meeting. — Alhakim urge Iraqis to calm down and united to not fail into terrorists (Attakfirieenes and Sadamieenes) trap. — Foreign – Libyan minister in a phone call with Iraqis foreign minister condemn the attack on Samara — The top Egyptian Sheikh of Al-Aazhar in a joint news conference with the Iraqi ambassador address people of Iraq to united and destroy the differentiation between sunnis and shiia’s and be just a Muslims without secretarians. — Atwar Bahjat funeral was attacked in Abu-Ghrib. ALSHARQIYA: — Religious leaders Sunnis and Shiites agree to united and they pray together for this accord to not attack each other. — A joint press conference between MOI and MOD early afternoon they both confirm that they going to take a serious measures against terrorism and the media that support terrorist acts. — ustrian airlines postpone their flights to Arbil north of Iraq — raq postpones the purchase of 1.5 million ton of wheat because of the curfew. ALJAZEERA: — Aljaafari meet with Kurdish and Arab Sunnis leaders at his house and call the Iraqis to unite and fight terrorism. — Us Ambassador who has been criticized by shia’s leaders this week for pushing to have Sunnis brought into government, said a unity government would help avert the risk of civil war, the risk he said had diminished on Saturday “There is still a danger” He told the reporter “But the risk of going to war because of the bombing has diminished.” In a lengthy interview he assured Iraqis that Washington was ready to help in any way:” The USA has a lot invested in Iraq. Iraq’s failures are ours” — Earlier, Moktada Alsadr aides meet with Sunnis religious and political leaders and call for Muslim unity. — Bush urges all Iraqi leaders on all sides to work together. ALFOURAT: — Frequently showing today demonstrations of people protesting and the camera was concreting on the heavy presence of women and this is unusual in Islam word Women don appear out with men in such occasions and without any comment. — Prayers and Koran lectures — Few times they show the joint press conference of MOD and MOI. — Out of the air staring midnight. AL-ARABIYA: — Funeral of Atwar Bahjat take the big part in today broadcasting the funeral was attacked three death and four injuries. on the way back a car bombing explode the convoy change direction to faluja instead to Baghdad — Joint press conference of MOD and MOI. — Showing some sad pictures of women crying for death and of there love one in Iraq and Palestine. — Sunnis and Muqtadah Alsadr Shiite leaders meet earlier to promote peace with a joint accord and blaming what is going one on the occupation asking the coalition to give agenda of pulling of Iraq as soon as possible, and they end the meeting with a joint prayer.”