BBC Monitoring Iraq Briefing 0400 gmt 9 Apr 04.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

The following is a round-up of the latest reports relating to Iraq and reaction to developments there in the surrounding region, available to BBC Monitoring as of 0400 gmt. This service is filed twice a day at 0400 gmt and 1600 gmt.

In this edition:

Security/Defence

Hostages

Local reaction

Politics

Multinational forces

Regional comment

International

Iraqi broadcast media

Regional broadcast media

Regional press comment

Security/Defence

Two US marines killed by Iraqi snipers: Two US marines were killed on 8 April by snipers in Al-Fallujah, a US officer said.(AFP news agency 1630 gmt 8 Apr 04)

Ten Iraqis killed, 20 wounded in Ba'qubah blast: Al-Jazeera TV on 8 April quoted medical sources in the city as saying that 10 Iraqis were killed and around 20 others were wounded in a bomb explosion in the area of Balduz, east of Ba'qubah. Eyewitnesses said that the bomb was placed inside a small cart. (Al-Jazeera 1600 gmt 8 Apr 04)

Six Iraqis killed, 20 wounded in Baghdad outskirts: US forces killed 6 Iraqis when they opened fire at Iraqi demonstrators on the outskirts of Baghdad, Al-Arabiya reported on 8 April, quoting Iraqi police. The police said 20 others were wounded. The TV said the Iraqis were trying to head for Karbala on foot to mark Imam Al-Husayn Arba'iniyah festivities. (Al-Arabiya TV 2000 gmt 8 Apr 04)

Three Spanish soldiers wounded in Al-Dawaniyah ambush: Spanish defence sources said on 8 April that three soldiers were wounded in an ambush in Al-Diwaniyah- one of them sustained serious injuries, Spanish news agency Efe. A statement released by the Ministry of Defence, the life of the seriously wounded soldier is not at risk, and doctors are him for a wound to the left eye and two others to the neck. The Spanish soldiers were attacked at 1945 gmt as they were crossing one of the bridges in Al-Diwaniyah, according to the Ministry of Defence. They were patrolling on foot, accompanied by a BMR armoured personnel carrier, which was hit by two grenades.( Efe news agency, Madrid, in Spanish 2256 gmt 8 Apr 04)

TV says US using cluster bombs in Al-Fallujah: Al-Jazeera satellite TV at 1835 gmt on 08 April said US warplanes were bombing Al-Julan neighbourhood in Al-Fallujah, using cluster bombs" (Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 1835 gmt 8 Apr 04)

Samawah coalition office attacked -witnesses: An area near the office of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Samawah came under attack, on 8 April witnesses told Kyodo News Agency. The attack near the CPA office, which occurred shortly after 1930 gmt, involved artillery shells, followed by gunfire, the witnesses said. (Kyodo News Service 2101 gmt 8 Apr 04)

US troops halt advance into Fallujah: American troops trying to take control of Al-Fallujah in Iraq, have stopped their advance towards the town centre and have called for reinforcements, BBC World Service reported on 8 April. The Americans say they don't have enough troops to keep pushing the insurgents back, BBC said. According to hospital workers in Al-Fallujah, up to 300 Iraqis have been killed since the American assault on the city. (BBC World Service 1733 gmt 8 April 04)

US forces, Iraqi police prepare for Kirkuk demonstration: US soldiers and Iraqi police were out in force on the streets of Kirkuk on 8 April, ahead of a scheduled demonstration for 9 April in support of Muqtada Al-Sadr, AFP reported on 8 April. More than 25 checkpoints have been set up in and around the city to catch "suspect elements," according to police chief General Turhan Yusef. The head of Sadr's office in Kirkuk has called for a demonstration to take place after Friday prayers in support of an insurgency raging in Al-Fallujah, AFP said. "We cannot just sit here cross-armed in front of the crimes committed by the occupation army," said Abdel Fattah al-Mussawi. He warned against "any effort to stop the demonstration," saying that those who tried to would be "digging their own graves. (AFP news agency 1552 gmt 8 Apr 04)

Hostages

Japan PM says no withdrawal despite hostages: The prime minister of Japan, Junichiro Koizumi, says his government will not withdraw troops from Iraq, despite the threat by Iraqi insurgents to kill the three Japanese citizens they're holding hostage, BBCWS reported on 9 April. After an emergency meeting of his cabinet, Mr Koizumi said the most important thing was to ensure the safety of the hostages and their rescue. (BBCWS 0400 gmt 9 Apr 04)

South Korea imposes travel ban for Iraq: South Korea has warned its citizens not to go to Iraq, after the abduction of seven South Korean missionaries, who were later released unharmed, BBCWS reported on 9 April. But the government in Seoul said it would go ahead with plans to send three-thousand-six-hundred troops to Iraq. A South Korean military survey team is due to leave today to inspect sites. (BBCWS 0400 gmt 9 Apr 04)

Canadian citizen Israeli Arab said taken hostage: The Canadian foreign ministry has said one of its citizens is among a the foreigners taken hostage by insurgents fighting the American-led coalition in Iraq, BBC World Service reported on 8 April. The man, Fadi Ihsan Fadel, was working for the US-based International Rescue Committee when he was taken hostage. The insurgents accused the Syrian-born Canadian and another Arab hostage of being Israeli agents. (BBC World Service 2150 gmt 8 Apr 04/ AFP news agency 2140 gmt 8 Apr 04)

[Iranian TV channel Al-Alam said it had received a video from the Iraqi group calling itself Ansar al-Din. The group said it had arrested two Israeli agents. In the video an unidentified man, wearing a hood, said that the group was prepared to release the detainees in exchange for Iraqi prisoners held by coalition forces. The video also included what the group said were confessions made by the two captives. (Al-Alam TV 1700 gmt 8 Apr 04)]

Japan to consider contacting kidnappers: Japan may consider contacting the militant group holding three Japanese …