Iraq Forces impose security in Ashraf Camp
Iraq’s government took control of Ashraf Camp in the wake of violent clashes between Mujahideen Khalq and Iraqi Forces on Friday.
Iraqi State Minister and Cabinet spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said in a statement to Alsumaria News that riots were spurred by Mujahiddeen Khalq members around the camp which required the intervention of security forces.
Iraqi security forces showed high self-restraint with rioters, Dabbagh said adding that 5 officers were seriously wounded after Mujahideen Khalq members attacked them by throwing stones.
Mujahideen Khalq group on the other hand accused Iraqi security forces of killing 28 people and wounding around 300. No sources confirmed this death toll while Baaquba public hospital confirmed it received 9 killed and 20 wounded, a medial source told Alsumaria.
Alsumaria TV, April 09 2011
Also on Al Iraqiyah TV (Reported by BBC Monitoring Middle East):
Iraqi official says Iranian opposition camp raid legal
Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic, in its evening newscasts on 8 April, reports on the assault against the Al-Iraqiyah TV cadre that was covering the protests in the Al-Tahrir Square; Ali al-Musawi, media adviser to the prime minister, saying that the Iraqi Constitution rejects hosting any terrorist organizations in Iraq; Sayyid Hazim al-A’raji, leading figure in the Sadrist Trend, calling for supporting the Bahraini people in achieving their constitutional demands; and other political and security developments. Political Developments
Within its 1300 gmt newscast, the channel reports on the following:
– "The Al-Iraqiyah TV cadre, which was covering today the peaceful protest in the Al-Tahrir Square, has been assaulted by individuals who were backed by some media outlets with private agendas and forces that oppose the patriotic views of the channel. Some of the protestors assaulted correspondent colleague Haday Shakkur and attacked the cameraman, destroyed his camera, cut the transmission cables, and then headed towards the car to destroy the live broadcast equipment. The protestors banned the [Al-Iraqiyah reporters] to broadcast events in the Al-Tahrir Square."
Within its 1700 gmt newscast, the channel reports on the following:
– "Ali al-Musawi, media adviser to the prime minister, says that the Iraqi forces were executing a judicial decree to return 50 square kilometres around the camp [Ashraf] to their owners. Al-Musawi described the [Iranian] Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization as a terrorist organization that cannot force an independent country such as Iraq to approve its existence on its territories. He highlighted that the Iraqi Constitution rejects hosting any terrorist organization that severs ties with neighbouring countries."
– "Sayyid Ahmad al-Safi, representative of the religious authority in Karbala, has stated in the Friday sermon that the reason behind the widespread administrative and financial corruption is the result of a weak sense of loyalty to Iraq felt by a large population of employees and officials."
At 1716 gmt, the channel conducts a telephone interview with Ali al-Dabbagh, state minister and spokesman for the Iraqi Government, to comment on the Camp Ashraf incident.
Al-Dabbagh says that the government is working to forbid terrorist organizations from operating in Iraq.
– "Sayyid Hazim al-A’raji, leading figure in the Sadrist Trend, has called for standing by the Bahraini people in achieving their constitutional demands. Al-A’raji highlighted in the Friday sermon that the United Nations and Arab League has been called on to stop the bloodshed in the kingdom." Security Developments
Within its 1300 gmt newscast, the channel reports on the following:
"Tahah Ja’far al-Alawi, leading figure in the Iraqi Al-Da’wah Party and manager of the Al-Masar Satellite Television, has been martyred in a terrorist assault in southern Baghdad. A security source said that terrorists driving a civilian Mitsubishi car opened fire at Al-Alawi and Abd-Farhan Diyab, employee at the Department of Political Prisoners, in the Uwarij area near Al-Durah."