MIDDLE EAST: Weekly round-up Number 14 for 19-25 March 2005

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Key Humanitarian Developments in Iraq

A training camp run by insurgents in the city of Tikrit, 160 km northwest of Baghdad, has been raided by Iraqi special forces and US troops, killing 84 insurgents, a BBC report said.

A Unit of 240 Iraqi commandos managed to take control of the camp on Tuesday after heavy fighting, in what observers believe to be the biggest blow to insurgents yet.

Insurgents from a number of countries were killed in the high level operation, according to Iraqi officials, along with at least seven Iraqi commandos, the report said.

On Thursday, 11 Iraqi commandos were killed in a suicide car bombing at a checkpoint in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, international media reported.

The checkpoints were established last month in the town to try and stop insurgents from entering. At least nine other police officers, two US soldiers and two civilians, were injured in the attack, according to officials.

With ongoing efforts to improve security, a television station in Baghdad, Al-Iraqiyah, reported earlier this week that UK forces in the south had supplied the authorities with police vehicles.

"Al-Muthana Police Directorate has received a number of vehicles that would reinforce its ability to carry out security tasks and maintain law and order in the province," it reported.

Some 14 vehicles - seven four by fours and seven salons were provided.

"I am happy that we delivered the vehicles, which will enhance the role of the police in al-Muthana. The British force is happy with the performance of the Iraqi police," a British force representative said, according to the report. The police chief of al-Muthana said the vehicles would help with logistical aspects of security work.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Reuters news agency reported that the Pentagon would not reopen a military investigation that cleared US troops of allegations of abuse against three Reuters employees in Fallujah in January 2004.

"Lawrence Di Rita, special assistant to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, said in a letter to Reuters dated March 7 that the initial investigation was adequate," a Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) statement said. the CJP is a US-based international watchdog organisation promoting press freedom.

The three employees, cameraman Salem Ureibi, journalist Ahmad Mohammad Hussein al-Badrani and driver Sattar Jabar al-Badrani were never interviewed by the military, Reuters said.

They were covering the aftermath of the downing of a US helicopter when they were detained by US troops on 2 January, 2004. They were taken to a US base near Fallujah and released three days later without charge. The employees claim that they were forced to make demeaning gestures as soldiers laughed, taunted them, and took photographs.

Following reports of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, the Pentagon had told Reuters it would review the Fallujah case to determine whether it should be reopened.

CONTENTS:

IRAQ: Interview with the UN Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi
IRAQ: Barbers threatened by hardliners
IRAQ: Extra semester for Fallujah students
IRAQ: Demonstrators defy eviction
IRAQ: Focus on threats against progressive women
YEMEN: Dengue fever deaths rise to 12
YEMEN: Sales tax generates fear among citizens and businessmen
YEMEN: Population grows to 19.7 million
SYRIA: Orphans to benefit from IT training

[ENDS]