Meeting between the British Charge D'Affairs and HE Ayatollah Sayyid
Al Hakim.15/3/199Meeting between the British Charge D'Affairs and HE Ayatollah Sayyid
Al Hakim.15/3/199
Death of 18 Mercenaries of the Regime in a Daring Operation in the
Province of Karbala. 5/3/1999
To:- His Excellency, Mr Kofi Anan, Secretary General of the United
Nations.23/02/99
The Angry Demonstration Continued in the Whole of Iraq22/02/99
The Criminal Ali Hasan Al Majid Executes 27 Members of the Fidayi
Saddam10/2/1999
A Large Group of Worshipers Demonstrated in Nasiriya Demanding the
Release of their Imam.5/2/1999
Results of the Military Strikes Against Iraq 27/1/1999
Saddam's Regime Sent Troops to Kuwaiti and Saudi Borders22/1/1999
Military Mobilisation in Nasiriya. 14/10/1998
Dispute between Uday and Qusay, Saddam's Sons.10/10/1998
Arrests in the Districts and Counties of Mosul Province5/10/1998
On Sunday 7 February, 1999, HE Ayatollah As Sayyid Al Hakim met the British Charge d'Affaires in Teheran in his office. After a friendly exchange of greetings, the Charge mentioned that the International Community, and the Iraqi people, faced a difficult problem in the dictator Saddam. He said that the British aim was the full implementation of UN Resolutions by the Iraqi regime, and that the most important of these was to prevent the regime's use of weapons of mass destruction. He said:- 'We have used diplomatic means to persuade the Iraqis to observe these resolutions, but unfortunately these means have been unsuccessful. For this reason we were compelled to use force last December, despite our reluctance to do so, in order to reduce the capability of the regime. We are now establishing new machinery in the framework of the UN to prevent the regime from making threats.' The Charge pointed to the recent agreement in the Security Council to form committees to deal with the questions of weapons of mass destruction, the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people, and the Kuwaiti prisoners in Iraq. He said that these committees would present their reports at the end of next April. The Ayatollah's guest expressed the view that prevention of the sufferings of the Iraqi people was not easy, because the forces of the regime continued their deployment in the South and because the regime was not concerned with the sufferings of the people. Then HE the Sayyid spoke, and expressed appreciation for the interest shown over the question of food supplies and over no fly zones. He pointed out that if the latter covered the whole of Iraqi airspace it would be better, since the present situation led to the impression that Iraq was divided, even though he knew that British and the West was against such a division. The inclusion of all Iraqi airspace would also be humanitarian, since his Sunni brothers, who represented a real force, also needed protection. And it was necessary to win them over to side against the regime. His Eminence added that the problem in Iraq was not only one of the elimination of weapons of mass destruction (since such weapons existed in other countries in the world). The problem is centred on the existence of a regime which rebelled against international laws, and which had made operational use of these weapons against its own people. Likewise the regime made use of Arab, Islamic, and sometimes international, public opinion in its confrontation, in order to try to achieve the raising of the sanctions imposed on it. For this reason the Ayatollah believed that the question of human rights in Iraq should be pursued, together with the question of weapons, since the violation of human rights in Iraq was more widespread than anywhere else. On the subject of no-fly zones the Charge answered that their limits were fixed at the time, not because the military commanders wanted that limitation, but without it more forces would have been required for longer periods. He said ' We retain our interest in preventing the division of Iraq, because partition of the country would be a disaster, causing the neighbouring states to fight among themselves to intervene in Iraq. We do not see any close connection between the restriction of the no-fly zones and the question of the preservation of the unity of Iraq. However, we are anxious not to give an impression that they precede any division of the country.' In connection with human rights he said: 'I agree with you that the regime's attacks against the Iraqi people are indicative of its cruelty. The reports of Van Der Stoel show that its contraventions of human rights are the worst in the world. However we face a problem over how to find new ways of relieving the suffering of the Iraqi people while they remain subordinate to the regime. HE Sayyid Al Hakim continued the discussion by saying:: - 'we only want the announcement of a comprehensive no-fly zone as a public relations question, to give the impression of protection of all the people. Some neighbouring states, like Turkey, Syria and Iran regard the present no fly zones as indicating a division of Iraq. The principle of the no fly zones might be converted into a political question. But they should be connected with protection, and the prohibition of flights by the aircraft of the regime should be seen not only as a matter of the protection for neighbouring states, but also of the protection of the Iraqi people. As for political security for the Iraqi people, it is possible to form a committee to inspect the prisons, and to search for those who have disappeared. As for the remainder of the humanitarian questions, that Arabs and Muslims could participate in such committees, and this would lead to an examination of the true situation inside Iraq. and result in its political isolation. In this way the UN would show its interest in the Iraqi people, as it shows its interest in other places such as Kosovo. In this way the humanitarian case, and its violation in Iraq would be very clear and even Russia, which has opposed it would submit to the UN. Likewise the UN ought to assure the operation of the decisions connected with human rights, such as SCR 688. And in our view this would cause an echo among the nations to put pressure on the regime. In answer to an enquiry by the Charge about the Iraqi Opposition and the nature of its work, HE Sayyid Al Hakim said:- ' the Opposition started with the Iraqi people and the effective forces within Iraq. These are the Shia represented by the Supreme Council, the Kurdish forces, represented by the PUK, the KDP and the IMK, and the Sunnis and Arabs represented by the Iraqi Army. We are trying, through the basic external forces which have influence inside, to have a discussion of the programme of work needed for a change. In this we depend firstly on the existence of unification between the Resistance, the Army and the forces of the Iraqi tribes; secondly that the unity of Iraq, its land and people should be assured with justice, equality and plurality; and thirdly on work for regional and international support , concentrated basically on preventing the regime from practising repression and on creating of a situation suitable for a change of regime. On his part the Charge welcomed the communication between the real Opposition parties and asked about the practical extent of their co-ordination, especially with the Sunnis and the Army. On this subject, HE Sayyid Hakim said that there were three means of communication with them ( political dialogue, communication with the shaikhs of the Sunni tribes, and direct communication with officers inside Iraq). The Charge asked about the means of encouragement for the resistance. HE the Sayyid then pointed to a comprehensive no-fly zone, needed to prevent the regime from practising repression; to the encouragement of the basic forces of Opposition with connections inside to have more cohesion and unity; to field work inside the country, and to the imposition of the prohibition of the movement of tanks and heavy weapons, and their use against the people. He also suggested the encouragement of regional states to co-operate with the Opposition. This would assist the people in the South to resist. At the end of the meeting the Charge expressed his belief in the soundness of the analysis and the clarity of the explanation given by HE the Sayyid, and promised to report it to London. He then confirmed that Britain had a firm stance, which was not shared by many states, and he pointed to their lack of concern with the criticism directed against them. He confirmed their position the side of the Iraqi people, their continuing pressure against the regime, and their work to end the sufferings of the people HE Sayyid Al Hakim expressed his thanks for Britain's interest and confirmed that this would weaken the hand which the regime was playing.
On 24 February 1999 Islamic Resistance groups attacked a convoy of cars which were transporting the Governor of Nasiriya, Staff Lieutenant General Ahmad Abdullah Salih, and the Director of Security in the Governorate, together with a number of senior security and Baath party officials, when they were travelling on the motorway in the Administrative District of Suq ash Shuyukh. Our sources, who reported the news, said that the men of the Resistance opened fire on the convoy with medium and light weapons and were able to set fire to and destroy a large number of the vehicles. They killed and wounded dozens of the occupants, while the Governor and the Director of Security fled to save their skins.
At the end of last month a Resistance group operating in the area of the Central Euphrates carried out a bold operation aimed at a nest frequented by the police hirelings of the regime to facilitate their operations against the populace. Our informants reported to us that the operation took place at ten o'clock on the night on 28/29 of January 1999, on the Khan al Nakheel - Tuwaireej road in the Governorate of Karbala. They added that the they members of the Resistance used hand guns and hand grenades for their attack which resulted in the deaths of 18 supporters of the regime and the wounding of a number of others. Our reports added that the members of the Resistance, after carrying out their attack with complete success, returned safely to their bases.
25 citizens have been killed and more than fifty others wounded in clashes which took place on Saturday in the capital, Baghdad, after the announcement of the news of the assassination of the Martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad as Sadr and two of his sons. Our sources have informed us that thousands of citizens came out in the areas of Al Thawra, Kadhimiya and Jamila, and Al Kifah street in angry demonstrations, shouting slogans accusing the regime of the tyrant Saddam of responsibility for the assassination of the martyred religious leader. They reported that the security apparatus of the regime, the forces of the Special Republican Guard, and the toadies of the Baath Party, together with the so-called Fidayi Saddam, opened fire with their weapons on the unarmed citizens and that dozens fell dead and wounded. Our informants added that the Security Authorities of the tyrant launched an extensive campaign of arrests, seizing 250 people, among them 15 religious scholars in Kadhimiya and Al Thawra, on Saturday alone. The Governorate of Nasiriya is experiencing great tension and outrage after the announcement of the news of the assassination of the Martyr religious leader Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad As Sadr, and large demonstrations took place on the Saturday afternoon, with the demonstrators blaming Saddam's regime with responsibility for the assassination, and attacking the tyrant Saddam personally. Our informants have added that the creatures, wretches and hirelings of the regime hastened quick to seek refuge and fortify themselves inside their headquarters for fear of the raging anger of the crowds. But the criminal Ali Hassan Al Majid, General Commander of the Southern Region, thereafter imposed a tight security and military blockade around the city of Nasiriya, and then ordered its bombardment with heavy artillery bombardment. First reports indicate that a large number of civilians have either been killed and wounded as a result of the savage, senseless, bombardment. The Holy City of Najaf, where the assassination of the Martyr scholar As Sadr and his two sons took place, witnessed, on Saturday at noon, and that afternoon, the descent of thousands of members of the Special Security units, and of members of the Republican Guard, armed to the teeth with various types of weaponry and clothed both in civilian dress and military uniforms, riding in armoured vehicles and open cars equipped with medium machine guns on the City centre, and on its suburbs. Our sources in Diwaniya, Amara, Basra, Kut and Samawa and other areas have sent us news confirming that the tension close to explosion point prevails in those governorates and cities. The repressive apparatus of the regime is worried and frightened, and that its employees have begun to slip away and hide for fear of the revenge of the enraged populace. In the agitated Governorate of Karbala the main streets have witnessed the emergence of thousands of citizens to demonstrate angrily, repeating anti regime slogans and accusing the criminal Saddam and his gangs of the assassination of the Martyred Ayatollah As Sayyid Mohammad As Sadr and his two son. Our sources there have added that the Security apparatus of the regime have launched a campaign of arrests which have involved hundreds of citizens, amongst them a number of the religious clergy. In addition to this, the authorities of the tyrant Saddam in the Southern and Central Governorates of Iraq have embarked on stern security measures, inside the towns, on the main roads, and their forces and establishments have been placed on the highest state of alert.
After greetings. The Iraqi regime have committed a new crime against religious scholars, against religious school in the Holy city of Najaf, and against the Shiite sect in Iraq, which represents the majority of the citizens of Iraq. This they did on the evening of Friday, the 19th of February 1999, in the Holy city of Najaf, through the organisation of an attack, by members of Iraqi Security, on the religious leader the Ayatollah, Sayyid Mohammad As Sadr, near the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali, (peace be upon him), after he had prayed there. He was killed with two of his sons. Thereafter they pressurised Sayyid As Sadr's family and relations to bury him without the celebration of suitable funeral rites. This confirms that this attack was planned by the regime itself. Tens of thousands of the Iraqi people have been protesting against this crime, with the result that there have been bloody clashes and widespread arrests in the crowded suburbs of the city of Baghdad. The regime have also blockaded the city of Nasiriya in Southern Iraq, shelling it with artillery, and attacking it, using units from the Special Republican Guard. They have also imposed martial law on the Southern Region of the country Likewise they have surrounded the Holy City of Najaf with military forces. The situation continues to escalate, indicating that the Iraqi people in general, and the Shiite sect in particular, are threatened with serious dangers. This savage crime committed by the regime is not the first crime which it has perpetrated against the religious community, or the Shiite sect, or against the Islamic religious scholars in general. Since 1980 the regime has continued to issue death sentences against religious scholars and worshippers without trial, and to conduct widescale physical purges which have afflicted thousands of Iraqis and hundreds of senior religious scholars. Foremost among the latter have been the Grand Ayatollah and Martyr Sayyid Mohammad Baqir As Sadr, the Ayatollah and Martyr Sayyid Qasim Shubar and a number of his family, the Martyr Ayatollah Abdul Sahib Al Hakim together with more than twenty of the family of the Grand Ayatollah Al Imam Al Hakim, the Martyred Ayatollah Sayyid Nasrallah Al Maustanbat, and the Martyr Ayatollah Shaikh Mohammad Taqi Al Jawahary who disappeared after him. There have been and many others besides these. March 1991, the regime issued the slogan ' No Shia after today'. They killed and engineered the disappearance of thousands of Iraqis, including more than a hundred religious scholars, and destroyed hundreds of religious foundations with explosives. The result was the passing of Security Council Resolution No. 688, international intervention and continuous pressure from world public opinion, and enquiries from the United Nations, the Social and Economic council, and from the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights. This led the regime to change the form of its policy from one of general open purges to evil methods such as assassinations and the fabrication of fatal accidents. His Eminence , Sayyid Mohammad Taqi Al Khoie, and his companion, Hojjat Islam Sayyid Amin Al Khalakhali, were killed in an incident on the Karbala Najaf road. Likewise there was an attempt to kill the Great Ayatollah, Sayyid Ali As Seistani, in his house, when two men who worked in his office were killed. The regime continued its purges of the men of religion until 1998, when they initiated a series of killings of religious leaders:- the Ayatollah Mirja'a Shaikh Murtada Al Borojurdi on the 22nd of April 1998; - then the Ayatollah Shaikh Ali Al Gharawi on the 1st of June 1998, and then the Ayatollah Shaikh Bashir Hussain Al Najafi was exposed to an assassination attempt in the middle of January 1999. The present surprising incident has evoked general condemnation from the Iraqi people, who are certain that the regime is responsible for committing this crime, after the numerous measures they had taken against the Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad As Sadr in their attempts to prevent him from attending Friday prayers, their blockade of his house and their provocative acts against him, and against some of his aides for Friday or other gatherings, or their arrest. At the same time as we condemn these crimes, we implore you, in the name of the Iraqi people, and in the name of all the Faithful, who yearn for security and stability, to take swift measures in order will protect the security of the religious community and the Holy City of Najaf. We suggest you:- 1.) Send a committee to study the facts, 2.) Ask the Iraqi regime to allow international supervision of the investigation being conducted to discover the perpetrators of this crime, 3.) Seek punishment of the group of killers, and those who gave them orders for the commission of this crime, 4.) Impose of International Supervision over this religious foundation which are exposed to total annihilation and extirpation, as it is foundation connected with hundreds of millions of Muslim and Shia people 5.) Take the necessary measures to protect the Iraqi people from operations of repression, and public killing, and follow up the implementation of SCR 688 earnestly to prevent the repressive operations which the regime has been practising against the Iraqi people recently, and more particularly those implemented after the assassination of the Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad As Sadr. Iraq, and the Iraqi people, are members of the institution of the United Nations, of the Islamic Conference Organisation, and of the Arab League. These International and regional organisations bear a heavy responsibility for the protection of the Iraqi people from these operations. We, and the Iraqi people, await your practical measures, May you remain fortunate, with great honour and respect, Mohammad Baqir Al Hakim, Head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq. 5 Dhu Al Qa'dah, 1419, - equivalent to 21 February 1999.
An urgent reports from Iraq confirmed that the confrontations and clashes which broke as a result of the announcement of the assassination of Ayatollah Mohamad Al Sadr between Iraqi people and Saddam's regime in Central and Southern Iraq are continuing since Saturday 20/2/1999. Nasiriya city are surrounded by military forces and was subjected to bombardments with heavy artillery and mortars. Clashes and confrontations took place in Sayed Yoshi' area in which the people managed to control the security and Bath Party centres. Our sources reported that 18 people were killed and many more were injured. In Al Rifaie, Sooq Al Shiyokh and Al Shatra districts the clashes took place between the Iraqi people and the Security apparatus of Saddam's regime. In Basra province demonstrations took place in many cities and villages especially in Al Fao district between the Iraqi people on one hand and the Security and Bath party mercenaries. In Babil province demonstrations took place in the city of Hilla the centre of the province , Misaiyab and Mahaweel districts and the people shouted slogans against Saddam's regime and demanded the overthrown of the regime which was responsible for the assassination of religious scholars and Iraqi people. In Misan province the demonstrations are continued which include attacking the security and Bath party centres. The regime sent military units to this province especially to Al Majar Al Kabeer district where the people managed to control security and Bath party centres.
. Amara ( 28/1/1999) Our sources in Southern Iraq have reported that the criminal Ali Hasan Al Majid, former Minister of Defence and present Governor General of the Southern Area, has issued an order for the deportation of all the inhabitants of the Al Firqa District, and the majority of them are from the Bait Sigar tribe, and also for the deportation of the inhabitants of the Al Lamy District. Both districts are in the Governorate of Amara. And it is said that the deportees were compulsorily settled to the North of the Al Azz river, and that, at the same time, widespread arrests were made which included the chiefs of the Bait Sagar tribe and its notables, and that a sentence of death was passed on them. After that the tribe were spared on condition that they did not confront Ali Hasan Al Majid's forces and hirelings. The Bait Sagar tribe had clashed with those forces and hirelings in the Al Lamy area the week before, and this clash had resulted in dead and wounded among the mercenaries of the regime. It is worth mentioning that dozens of the sons of this tribe are still under arrest and that a number of them have been executed in the presence of the criminal Ali Hasan Al Majid, and that the machines of the regime have destroyed their houses, obliterating all trace of them.
In recent days the criminal Ali Hasan Al Majid has carried out the execution, by firing squad, of 27 members of the organisation called the Fidayi Saddam in the Governorate of Amara. Our sources there have confirmed that they were accused of co-operation with the Islamic Resistance and the provision to the latter of information about the movements of the criminal Ali Hasan Al Majid. Our informants have reported that the bodies of those executed were delivered to their families on the day of the Id Al Fitr, thus making an example of them and displaying the ruthlessness and cruelty of the regime. The criminal Ali Hasan Al Majid, committed an heinous crime in striking at the necks of two of the Fidayi with a sword in front of the general public in the centre of the Governorate of Nasiriya to punish them for passing important and sensitive information to the forces of the Islamic Resistance. It is worth mentioning that the Governorate of Nasiriya, together with the Governorates of the South, are living in an atmosphere popular indignation and tense security, with expectations of further attacks on the gangs of criminals and their leader, the criminal Ali Hasan al Majid, who has been exposed to two assassination attempts during the last fortnight. While he escaped from these to save his skin, he left his coteries to their fate as food for the guns of the heroes of the Islamic Resistance.
The Authorities Responded by Opening Fire on Them, and Hundreds Were Killed, Wounded or Arrested. (Nasiriya. 31/1/1999). Five worshippers were killed, eleven wounded and two hundred arrested in the City of Nasiriya on Friday, 15 January 1999, during a large popular demonstration by worshippers in front of the Security Directorate of the Province of Nasiriya, demanding the release of Shaikh Awas, Imam of the Nasiriya city mosque who had been arrested by the Security authorities of the regime on Thursday 14 January. Our informants have said that the incident started peacefully when a group of worshippers refrained from carrying out their prayers on Friday 15 January because of the absence of the Imam, Shaikh Awas, at the appointed time. It then became known that he had been arrested by men from the Directorate of Nasiriya Security. Thereafter the crowd of worshippers refused to pray, despite the presence of Shaikh Asa'd As Saghir, Shaikh Awas's deputy, and demanded that he go to the Nasiriya Security Directorate to seek the release of the imprisoned Shaikh. Shaikh Saghir did go to the Directorate building to transmit the demands of the worshippers. However. the officers of the Directorate of Security in Nasiriya refused his requests. Our sources added that thousands of worshippers then lined up on the spot carried out the Friday prayer, and expressed their keen anger when they saw Shaikh Asa'd returning without the Imam of their mosque. They started shouting slogans and Islamic sayings hostile to the regime of Saddam, among them:- "Who has shed your blood, Oh Sadr" "Come Oh Mehdi and save us" "Oh. Oh.. As Sadr where is he? They have lost his grave for us" Indicating the Martyr of Iraq, the Great Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Baqr as Sadr, who was foully and unfairly executed with his sister in the year 1980 by the regime of the tyrant Saddam. Our informants reported that after that the worshippers started a large demonstration through the streets of Nasiriya which marched towards the building of the Directorate of Nasiriya Security, where the Imam of their mosque was held under arrest. There they formed a human cordon around it on all four sides. The regime's mercenaries reacted by opening fire on them with their machine guns and hand grenades with the result that 16 of the citizens fell dead or wounded. After that, on the same day, units of mercenaries and rascals from Security and the Baath Party carried out a swathe of arrests amongst those they suspected of having participated in the demonstrations. More than 100 people were detained, as part of the heightened security measures which were imposed on the city of Nasiriya and its suburbs. Well informed sources within the regime have reported that the criminal Ali Hasan Al Majid, Governor General of the Southern Region, which includes the Governorates of Basra, Nasiriya and Amara was responsible for the order to open fire on the demonstrators. He also instituted the emergency measures imposed on the city of Nasiriya, establishing a curfew, ordering the patrolling, and the distribution of detachments in the main streets and around the popular areas of the city of Nasiriya, and banning the exercise of the Friday prayer in the city of Nasiriya until further notice. Our sources have confirmed that the security situation in Nasiriya remains very tense and that other Governorates of Iraq have been infected by the tension. This has compelled the regime to resort to the strengthening of its security measures
1 - The movement of the Republican Guards were paralysed by the military strikes and a number of them have fled while many of them have been killed and injured. 2 - Strategic weapons remain in existence and some of them are to be found in Kut province moving around. 3 - The Husainiya military camp belonging to the Republican Guards was hit and a number of their personnel killed. 4 - The Military Police HQ in Kut province was hit as was, likewise, the Kut training centre. 5 - A military camp of Badra city has been hit and the ammunition magazine blown up. 6 - On 17/12/1998 at 12,55 a.m. a cruise missile hit the ammunition magazine at Abu Ghraib camp. After five minutes there was a second explosion at the same place, and after fifteen minutes there was a further one in the same place. The total missiles were hit the camp were 3 cruise missiles. There was an internal explosion at the magazine. Rockets began flying into the sky and piles of ammunition began to explode. 7 - Iraqi people were frightened in the beginning from bombardment of civilians, but they were optimistic when they saw the shelling of the oppressive apparatus of the regime such as the Security Apparatus, the Military Intelligence, and the Republican Guards. They were afraid that the strikes will stop without the overthrow of the regime. The Regime Measures to face the Military Strikes 1 - With the beginning of the air raids on Iraq members of the Bath Party summoned with all their equipment, weapons and ammunition and were directed to their original assembly points in the schools and party branches. 2 - Members of Intelligence, Security and military intelligence received instructions from the higher leadership that their duty would lie in the streets and under the bridges in every part of Baghdad. They would use their personal civilian cars and be at the highest state of alert. Our people saw them in this state sleeping in their cars until the morning on 17 December. 3 - Our sources followed a section of senior officers of the intelligence who were stationed in a house in Mansoor area of Baghdad belonging to the intelligence services near the statue of Abu Ja'far Al Mansoor behind the Al Anab Restaurant. This house considered to be alternative HQ for the officers. 4 - On the Thursday morning at 9am in the Al Rashdiya Check Point a group of 30 tanks and 10 Armoured Vehicles and two Radar were seen on the right of the road heading to Baaquba, in an open square. On the same day a further group of Radar have been seen on transportation vehicles moved from Baaquba to Baghdad. 5 - Baath Party members withdrew from villages close to the borders of Kurdistan which are Qarabalagh, Kosji, Kalat, Al Islah and Shaikh Baba Gurgur to Shahraban, Jalawla and Baaquba, for the fear of an opposition uprising. 6 - Soldiers from the 2nd Corps were withdrew to Baaquba and Baghdad for protection; and a group of 200 soldiers withdrew for special reasons on 17/12/1998. 7 - The check point in Kolchi near Kalar area prevented the petrol and gas calendars from entering Kurdistan because of the internal situation in Iraq. 8 - The duties of the Fidayee Saddam during the crisis were centralised and received from Uday Saddam, and defined as remaining in their posts to avoid any popular anger or popular uprising. 9 - The duties of the Special Guards and the anti aircraft defences were to be received from the tyrant Saddam, who promised them presents of new saloon cars after the crisis is over. 10 - Radar, artillery and rocket launchers were withdrawn from Diyala, Jalawla and Khanaqeen to Baghdad at 8,30 on the morning of Thursday 17/ 12/ 1998. They were seen by our reporters being carried by large transportation named by the Ministry of Commerce. 11 - The Fidayi Saddam were dispersed on the edges of Baaquba. For instance a group of them estimated at about 25 people clothed in black and with all their equipment, went to Al Qaws junction (Baaquba - Khalis) together with group of police and Baath party members.
Our sources inside Iraq have reported that during the last few days military units were seen moving on the main Amara - Basra road equipped with Sam 6 missiles. These units were the 42nd Brigade, Tariq bin Ziyad forces of the Republican Guards from the S'ada area near Qal'at Salih, Sa'ad Forces of the Republican Guards , and units from the Baath Party. Units from the 4th Corps deployed in the Artawi, Tal Al Laham, and Al Bat-ha areas and along the Basra - Nasiriya highway area in the direction of the Iraqi/Saudi border. The regime despatched combat units from the Fidayi Saddam and other Security Forces to areas near the Iraqi border. Units from the Adnan forces of the Republican Guard moved from Baghdad to Basra in civilian vehicles and civilian clothing.. Saddam's regime have also deployed 25 missiles between Al Bat-ha' and Al Khidr counties, and near Al Slaiman district, not far from the Iraqi-Saudi border. (These missiles are possibly ground to air missiles, but could include Scud rockets.) The regime has despatched some Scud missiles to the Provinces of Basra and Nasiriya. They also sent reinforcements for the units in the Provinces of Basra, Nasiriya and Al Amara during the month of Ramadan. Besides that they have moved units of the Al Faris Forces of the Republican to Nasiriya province (where they are deployed in the suburbs ), to the area of Al Jazira, and to Basra. Other units have been moved towards the Saudi border. The Baath Party started a campaign of " Popular Mobilisation " in the Centre and South of Iraq, with lectures and seminars for students, who were then organised into combat battalions and regiments. Finally the Iraqi regime has put its armed forces, Security Intelligence, and Baath Party members of the highest state of alert.
We received an urgent report on Saturday 14 November 1998, saying that Saddam's son, the criminal Qusay, has been touring the region of Basra, Nasiriya, and Amara during the last three days, and met Ali Hassan Majeed, the former Minister of Defence several times. These two criminals have perpetrated brutal new crimes against people in Amara, and have executed 150 citizens who were arrested during the last fortnight. Our sources have told us that they saw the bodies of three of those executed hanging on the main bridge in Amara. Among those executed were Sayed Abu Al Hail Al Batat and Mullah Ghadhban Al Sa'idi. Ali Hassan Al Majeed has also had dozens of defectors from the Army executed in Basra, and has launched a campaign of mass arrests among those suspected by the Baath or the Security Apparatus of being hostile to the regime. The dictator's regime executed another 50 people in Radhwaniya prison on the 7th of November 1998. Their bodies have been handed over to their families in Basra, Nasiriya, Amara, Samawa, Najaf, Diwaniya and Hilla. Our informants have commented that Saddam's regime is now as weak as it has ever been, and fears popular movements. It is committing these crimes to show that it remains strong, and capable of controlling everything ,especially matters connected with security, in Iraq. It sent a group of its criminal supporters, headed by Saddam's cousin Ali Hassan Al Majeed, and his son Qusay, to display their force and strength in the face of the current discontent of the population, which is appalled at these criminal acts and their guilty perpetrators. Attacks against the Marshes in Basra and Amara Our informants in Southern Iraq have reported that Saddam's regime has put all Army units, Baath Party members, the Security Forces and the Emergency Forces, on the highest state of alert. They have confirmed that the regime has taken emergency measures in the Southern Provinces, and carried out random attacks which have targeted the inhabitants of areas and villages close to the Marshes, especially in the Provinces of Basra and Amara. Our sources have added that military units, together with members of the Baath Party, of Security Intelligence and the Emergency Forces, have attacked the areas of Bani Malik in Basra, and the Al I'dhaim Marsh, I'chirda area, and Am Al Ni'aj Lake in Amara. Their bombardments have lasted for five days and have extended as far as areas near the border with Iran. The authorities have prevented fishermen from carrying out their normal activities on Am Al Ni'aj Lake, and detained local people, evacuating them to other areas which are under the supervision and control of the forces of the regime. Furthermore units from the Army have launched a brutal attack against the Al Suwaib area of Basra Province, with their forces advancing as far as the Abu Al Afat area, from which they established a cordon round Al Suwaib and the districts surrounding it. We have been told that the road between Basra and Amara is crowded with military units, and members of the Baath Party and Emergency Forces, armed with light and medium weapons. Saddam's Regime Put Pressure on the Tribes of Southern Iraq Our sources inside Iraq have reported that the head of the Baath Party Organisations in Basra and Nasiriya, the criminal Abdul Baqi Al Sadoon, has started a campaign of meetings with the Heads of the tribes in these two Provinces. He has been trying to threaten and bribe them to co-operate with the regime. However our informants tell us that most of the tribal chiefs left these meetings full of displeasure and aversion towards Abdul Baqi, who has shed the blood of members of the tribes and destroyed their property. Because the regime fears a new uprising Qusay issued orders on 6 November that Army defectors in the Central and Southern Provinces should be pardoned and given assurances that they will not be subjected to any legal measures, provided they give themselves up within three days of the pardon taking effect, on Army Day, which is the 12th of November. Our sources have told us that Qusay had his father's authority for this pardon. People in Basra and Diwaniya have joked about this pardon and have not responded to it. In another measure the Ministry of Education has issued instructions to all schools that all students born in 1980 and 1981, must, without exception, be compelled to join the Fidayoo Saddam (Self Sacrifice). Saddam's Regime Continue their Brutal Attacks against the South Our sources within Iraq have reported on 11 November 1998 that Saddam's supporters have continued their brutal attacks against the Al Jazira area, and the surrounding districts, in Nasiriya and Amara Provinces. There was further military confrontation on 9 November 1998 between the tribes and the resistance forces on the one hand, and the forces of the regime on the other. The attacking forces were led by Ali Hassan Al Majid, the former Minister of Defence, by the present Defence Minister, Staff Lieut General Sultan Hashim, the Governor of Nasiriya, the Head of the Baath Party organisation in Nasiriya and Amara, and the Commanders of the 3rd and 4th Corps, and that of the 11th Mechanised Division. Our sources have reported that the attacks in Nasiriya Province were directed against the areas of Al Shadeed, Al Ubaid, Al Dakheel, Al Jwaibir, Sayed Yoshi, Al Jimamla, Al Hammar, Al Msaihib, Al 'Aila, Al Ramla, Al Sicha, Al Hammara, and Al Ghubba. On the other hand the attacks in Amara Province were against the areas of Al Saigal, Al Igar, Al Mshaihid, Al Chidi, Am Jamal, Al Nikhaila, Abu Shadhir, Al Salam, Al Islah and Sayed Ahmad Al Rifa'i. The heavy artillery bombardment against the villages and residential areas attacked was intensified, and the regime mobilised military units, supporters in the Baath Party, Emergency Forces, the Security Intelligence and the Fidayoo Saddam ( Saddam's Commandos ) for these attacks.
Our sources have reported that on 19 September several tanks and armoured cars were seen gathered near the Al Jwaibir area of Nasiriya Province. They also confirmed that an infantry battalion belonging to the 11th Mechanised Division, was positioned in the same area, in preparation for an attack on Al Jwaibir and other villages in the vicinity. They added that Saddam's authorities, and the gangs serving them, were continuing a policy of attacking peoples' houses in the greater part of Nasiriya Province, and were arresting men and youths at random. The sources added that Brigadier General Ahmad Abdullah Salih, the Governor of Nasiriya, was in the Suq Al Shiyukh district to supervise the organisation of the mercenaries and co-ordinate the diverse organisations of oppression in preparation for the attack.
Our informants have reported from Baghdad, the capital, that an acute dispute has arisen recently between Saddam's two sons, Uday and Qusay. The dispute erupted when Qusay, without informing Uday, released the former Minister, Hikmat Al Azzawi, who was confined in the General Intelligence Service Prison in Baghdad. Hikmat had been arrested three months ago when he opposed the Uday's transfer of a large sum of money abroad from Iraq. When Uday learnt of the release he became angry, demanding the return of the ex Minister to prison, but this was opposed strongly ( for unknown reasons ) by Qusay. Our sources have added that Saddam intervened personally in the dispute but failed to solve it. The fate of Hikmat Al Azzawi is at present unknown. Furthermore, our informants have added that Qusay continues to suffer from the injuries he received in the assassination attempt on his life in December 1996. They report that he has returned to the organisations which were under his control before the attempt, and uses them for his own criminal purposes. These organisations dealt with trade, the media, and included centres dealing with political affairs and sport. Uday, who is still suffering from physical and psychological problems, has treated staff in these centres brutally and hysterically. Some of the officials who had been appointed by Saddam and Qusay to run these organisations while Uday was undergoing medical treatment have now been humiliated by Uday's gangs and accused of conspiring against him.
We have received reports from Iraq that, starting in the week of 20 September 1998, the Security Apparatus launched a campaign of arrests in the districts and counties of the Province of Mosul in Northern Iraq. The campaign was characterised by raids on a large number of peoples' houses, on the pretext of searching for military defectors. The districts affected included Ba'shiqa, Al Qayara, Zamar, Al Shaikhan and Al Hadhar. Dozens of citizens were arrested and transferred to unknown detention centres. During the raids large sums of money and much property were stolen. Eye witnesses have reported that those arrested were not defectors from military service, but were detained for political reasons.
