Iraqi press highlights 31 Aug 06.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

Iraqi newspapers dated 31 August highlight the following issues:

I. Political developments and comments

Al-Basa'ir on 30 August runs on the front page a 1,000-word report on Statements 309 and 310 issued by the Association of Muslim Scholars on 26 August condemning the assassination of Shaykh Abd-al-Sattar Abd-al-Jabbar's brothers and the crime committed by sectarian militias in cooperation with the Iraqi Army and police in Al-Islah District.

Al-Basa'ir on 30 August publishes on the front page and on page 2 a 1,400-word report on the news conference held by the Association of Muslim Scholars in Baghdad on 28 August to condemn the recent attacks by sectarian militias and Iraqi security forces on Sunni districts in northern Baghdad.

Al-Basa'ir on 30 August carries on the front page and on page 3 a 400-word report on the statement issued by the Association of Muslim Scholars condemning Shi'i militias and the Interior Ministry's forces for attacking Sunni mosques in Al-Mahmudiyah, Dhi Qar, and Hay al-Amil District in Baghdad.

Al-Basa'ir on 30 August runs on the front page and on page 3 a 400-word report on the statement issued by the Association of Muslim Scholars condemning US "occupation" forces for attacking Shaykh Abd-al-Qadir al-Gaylani Mosque in Al-Ramadi.

Al-Basa'ir on 30 August carries on the front page and on page 3 a 300-word report on the statement issued by Association of Muslim Scholars condemning US "occupation" forces for killing three Sunnis in Al-Radwaniyah District and denouncing the tight siege imposed by Iraqi security forces on Buhriz District in Diyala Governorate.

Al-Basa'ir on 30 August runs on the front page a 600-word editorial predicting the failure of Al-Maliki's National Reconciliation Project and all other National Reconciliation Initiatives as long as Iraq is under occupation. The editorial says that unless the Iraqi forces opposing the ongoing political process become involved in the National Reconciliation Project, Iraq will not restore security and stability.

Al-Basa'ir on 30 August publishes on page 2 a 240-word report entitled 'Tribal Chiefs Sign Pact of Honour Forbidding Iraqi Bloodshed; Kurds Determine Kirkuk's Fate.'

Al-Istiqamah carries on the front page a 130-word report on SCIRI Chairman Abd-al-Aziz Al-Hakim's letter to Amr Musa emphasizing the importance of the role of the Arab League in Iraq.

Al-Istiqamah runs on the front page a 400-word report on SCIRI Chairman Abd-al-Aziz Al-Hakim's meeting with the district administrators' delegation from Maysan Governorate in Baghdad on 29 August to discuss the advantages of federalism. The report focuses on the latest developments in the National Reconciliation Project.

Al-Istiqamah publishes on the front page a 130-word exclusive report citing Foreign Ministry denying earlier news reports that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will visit Iraq.

Al-Istiqamah carries on the front page a 170-word report on Foreign Minister Zebari's meeting with the Chinese and Turkish Ambassadors to Iraq in Baghdad yesterday, 30 August to discuss bilateral relations.

Al-Istiqamah runs on the front page a 600-word editorial saying that despite the relative improvement in the security situation in the last two weeks, the Baghdad Security Plan has failed to prevent the recent attack on Al-Sabah newspaper and other terrorist attacks in Baghdad. The writer urges the government and security forces to improve their performance and methods.

Al-Bayan carries on the front page a 300-word report on the inauguration of the Al-Jil and Shahrazad Radio Stations under the auspices of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Al-Bayan runs on the front page a 100-word report citing an official source at the cabinet confirming the inauguration of http://www.citizenaffairs.com[1] to receive public complaints and advertise vacant jobs. (OSC plans no further processing)

Al-Bayan carries on the front page a 300-word follow-up report entitled 'Al-Musawi: Investigation into Waste of Iraqi Wealth Will Include Oil Coupons.'

Al-Bayan carries on the front page a 200-word report citing an official source in Kirkuk confirming that a delegation from the governorate will participate in the Kirkuk Normalization Committee's meeting in Baghdad.

Al-Bayan runs on the front page a 250-word report entitled 'Cabinet Allocates 20 Billion Iraqi Dinars to Culture Ministry in 2007 Budget To Be Distributed to Journalists, Poets, and Writers as Reward.'

Al-Bayan publishes on the front page a 400-word report citing Basra Advisory Council confirming that Britain has agreed to finance a project to construct a free zone in Basra Airport.

Al-Muwatin runs on the front page a 600-word report entitled 'Talabani Confirms: Apart from Takfiris and Saddamists, Doors Open for All To Join National Reconciliation Project; Salim Abdallah: Conditions of Association of Muslim Scholars Not Impossible.'

Al-Muwatin carries on the front page a 250-word report citing Foreign Relations Parliamentary Committee member Zahra al-Hashimi confirming that the committee will demand the resignation of some Iraqi Ambassadors for their poor performance.

Al-Muwatin publishes on the front page a 400-word report on Defence Minister Abd-al-Qadir al-Ubaydi's meeting with Al-Diwaniyah's tribal chiefs and officials yesterday, 30 August. Al-Ubaydi confirmed that the government will not submit to the conditions imposed by insurgents and that the agreement concluded between Al-Mahdi Army and the local government is void.

Al-Muwatin publishes on the front page a 200-word report on National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubayy'i's meeting with the Italian Ambassador to discuss the handover of security responsibility to Iraqi security forces in Dhi Qar Governorate.

Al-Muwatin runs on the front page a 400-word report citing the conclusive statement issued by Basra Tribal Chiefs' Group Conference issued yesterday, 30 August, demanding the elimination of suspicious and corrupt security officers. The report says that recruitment centres are witnessing high turnouts in the governorate.

Al-Muwatin carries on the front page a 400-word report citing Aydin Aqsu, official in charge of the Turkomans Front in Baghdad, strongly criticizing the recent Kurdistan constitutional amendments regarding Kirkuk as the capital of the Kurdistan federal bloc.

Al-Muwatin publishes on page 4 a 1,250-word report citing politicians commenting on the projected visit of Kofi Annan to Baghdad.

Al-Sabah al-Jadid carries on the front page a 1,200-word editorial by Chief Editorial Isma'il Zayyir discussing the danger of the proportional power sharing system on the future of Iraq.

Al-Sabah al-Jadid carries on the front page a 400-word on the news conference held by General Casey in Baghdad yesterday, 30 August. Casey predicted that Iraqi security forces will assume security responsibility in the country within the next 18 months.

Al-Zaman runs on the front page a 700-word report on the latest political and security developments in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate. The report cites Governor Khalil Jalil Hamzah demanding the elimination of arms manifestation in the governorate. Citizens confirmed that multinational forces demanded the evacuation of their houses.

Al-Zaman publishes on the front page a 500-word report on the latest political and security developments in Al-Muthanna Governorate. The report cites eyewitness confirming that approximately 500 people staged a demonstration demanding jobs yesterday, 30 August.

Al-Zaman carries on the front page a 400-word report citing Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih confirming agreement on the distribution of oil revenues among federal blocs and governorates. The report cites a parliament member stipulating conditions for the implementation of federalism in Iraq.

Al-Mu'tamar carries on the front page a 140-word report that Jalal Talabani has encouraged Korean companies to invest in Iraq.

Al-Mu'tamar carries on the front page an 80-word report citing Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari saying that the ministry has no idea about Kofi Annan's visit to Iraq. Al-Mu'tamar carries on the front page an 80-word report citing Falah Shnishil head of Al-Sadri Block at the Iraqi parliament saying that his group will request the UN Secretary General to end the existence of multinational forces in Iraq.

Al-Mu'tamar carries on the front page a 100-word report citing a parliament member from the Association of Muslim Scholars saying that the association will join the National Reconciliation Project if their short list of requests is met.

Al-Mu'tamar carries on page 3 a 120-word …