News Summary - Friday , 05 /09 /2008

News Summary

Voices of Iraq

Friday , 05 /09 /2008 Time 11:18:14

BAGHDAD, Sept. 5 (VOI) – Following is a summary of news reports posted until 10:00 p.m. Baghdad local time Friday:

* Politics:

BAGHDAD, Iraq’s deputy Prime Minister on Friday said security gains are still “fragile”, noting meeting between the central government and Kurdistan’s regional authorities are ongoing to reach solutions to controversial issues.

BAGHDAD, Iraq’s Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said his country is not in need of an agreement that does not guarantee its sovereignty, noting U.S-Iraq negotiations on security deal have been stopped.

BAGHDAD, Unknown gunmen on Friday assassinated a defence ministry advisor in Baghdad, a police source said.

KARBALAA, The representative of top Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani called on Iraqi people to defend themselves against the lack of services, deeming pledges taken by some Iraqi officials to improve them as “false”.

ARBIL, Head of Kurdistan region's presidency office unveiled that the Khanaqin agreement that has been signed by the Iraqi federal government and Kurdistan's regional cabinet has been in place since Friday.

BAGHDAD, Iraqi government spokesman on Friday denied reaching an agreement on replacing mainstream security forces with Kurdish forces Peshmerga in Diala’s disputed town.