December 2004
December 22, 2004THE RELIABLE IRAQI DAILY AL-MADA, WHICH BROKE THE STORY ABOUT SADDAM'S OIL VOUCHERS, REPORTS THAT U.N. OFFICIALS DEALING WITH THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS IN IRAQ ARE BEING INVESTIGATED FOR CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY. ACCORDING TO THE DAILY, THE OFFICIALS, MOSTLY FROM LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES, HAVE PRESSURED THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO PRINT BALLOTS AND OTHER ELECTIONS MATERIALS FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LARGE WESTERN FACILITIES WITH WHICH THEY HAVE DEVELOPED BUSINESS RELATIONS DURING THEIR WORK ON ELECTIONS ELSEWHERE. THESE OFFICIALS ARE ACCUSED OF RECEIVING BRIBES AND COMMISSIONS FOR CHANNELING PROCUREMENT THROUGH THEIR FAVORITE FIRMS. AS A RESULT, THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE HIGH COMMISSION HAVE SOURED. (AL-MADA, BAGHDAD, 12/21/04)
December 21, 2004THE RELIABLE IRAQI DAILY AL-MADA OBTAINED INFORMATION FROM AN IRAQI GROUP CALLING ITSELF 'THE BATTALIONS OF THE MUJAHIDEEN' ABOUT THE PRODUCTION OF A NEW MISSILE 'FARUQ 1' BY FORMER ENGINEERS FROM THE MILITARY INDUSTRY. THE MISSILE HAS A RANGE OF 26 KILOMETERS (16 MILES) AND WAS ALREADY FIRED AT AMERICAN BASES IN THE CITY OF MOSUL. (AL-MADA, BAGHDAD, 12/17/