Iraqi Airways has now resumed flights to Turkey since sanctions were imposed in 1991, following Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.
Iraqi Airways is planning to operate two commercial flights a week between Baghdad and Istanbul.
The airline resumed international flights in September 2004 with a Baghdad-Amman service, after being grounded for 14 years.
It currently flies to Amman in Jordan, Damascus as well as the Iraqi cities of Arbil and Basra.
Small steps maybe, but important ones nonetheless.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Thursday, August 04, 2005
The Mother of All Mercs
First Sergeant William von Zehle has just shipped Saddam Hussein's Mercedes car to the USA.
The Connecticut soldier bought the car for about $5K, when he was serving in Baghdad. Much like the Batmobile, the car has one or two extras such as armour plating and flame throwers that shoot out the sides for crowd control.
Von Zehle says he did some research on the car, and found that just three of armoured 560 models were sold to the Iraqi government in 1988.
Von Zehle had the Mercedes shipped back home where it sits in his garage. He hasn't registered the car yet, and says it needs some work.
A broken front passenger window needs to be replaced. However, the bulletproof glass costs more than $14K.
The Connecticut soldier bought the car for about $5K, when he was serving in Baghdad. Much like the Batmobile, the car has one or two extras such as armour plating and flame throwers that shoot out the sides for crowd control.
Von Zehle says he did some research on the car, and found that just three of armoured 560 models were sold to the Iraqi government in 1988.
Von Zehle had the Mercedes shipped back home where it sits in his garage. He hasn't registered the car yet, and says it needs some work.
A broken front passenger window needs to be replaced. However, the bulletproof glass costs more than $14K.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Saddam Hussein's Lawyers Boycott Trial
Saddam Hussein's lawyers will not take part in legal proceedings, until the Iraqi tribunal acknowledges he was attacked in court and guarantees the safety of all defendants and attorneys.
That is at least the view of Khalil al-Dulaimi, a lawyer for Saddam.
The dispute centres over the alleged attack on Saddam last Thursday, when he attended court. Members of Saddam's defence team claim that he was attacked during the court appearance. However, the government and the Iraqi Special Tribunal said there had been no attack.
Khalil al-Dulaimi insists that the allegation is true, and demands that the government acknowledge it.
He also insists that the tribunal apologise, guarantee the safety of Saddam and other former regime figures, and punish the attacker.
He said Saddam's lawyers would stop attending any further proceedings "until our demands are met."
That is at least the view of Khalil al-Dulaimi, a lawyer for Saddam.
The dispute centres over the alleged attack on Saddam last Thursday, when he attended court. Members of Saddam's defence team claim that he was attacked during the court appearance. However, the government and the Iraqi Special Tribunal said there had been no attack.
Khalil al-Dulaimi insists that the allegation is true, and demands that the government acknowledge it.
He also insists that the tribunal apologise, guarantee the safety of Saddam and other former regime figures, and punish the attacker.
He said Saddam's lawyers would stop attending any further proceedings "until our demands are met."
Monday, August 01, 2005
Saddam Hussein's Trial To Start October
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser, said that he expects Saddam Hussein to go on trial before mid-October and said the trial would be shown on TV throughout the Arab world.
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said that Iraqis would be able to see that Saddam has "gone into the past and gone with the wind."
He went on to say that he hoped that Saddam would be tried publicly, before the Iraqi Special Tribunal; before October 15, that is the day that Iraqis are to vote as to whether to ratify a new constitution.
He said Saddam would not be allowed "to give us his rhetorics and his speeches on his nonsense. We are going to concentrate on the criminal side of it."
Al-Rubaie concluded by saying that the Iraqis would conduct a fair trial:
"with a defence counsel in there, with a proper prosecuting counsel as well there, and everybody will watch this trial live on television."
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said that Iraqis would be able to see that Saddam has "gone into the past and gone with the wind."
He went on to say that he hoped that Saddam would be tried publicly, before the Iraqi Special Tribunal; before October 15, that is the day that Iraqis are to vote as to whether to ratify a new constitution.
He said Saddam would not be allowed "to give us his rhetorics and his speeches on his nonsense. We are going to concentrate on the criminal side of it."
Al-Rubaie concluded by saying that the Iraqis would conduct a fair trial:
"with a defence counsel in there, with a proper prosecuting counsel as well there, and everybody will watch this trial live on television."
Saddam Hussein Attacked In Court
Defence lawyers for Saddam Hussein say that an unidentified man attacked the former dictator, during his appearance at a court hearing in Baghdad Thursday.
The legal team said in a statement on Saturday that the man attacked Saddam, as he stood to leave the courtroom, and the two exchanged blows.
It is not clear as to whether Saddam was hurt.
The statement said that the head of the tribunal did nothing to stop the assault.
The legal team said in a statement on Saturday that the man attacked Saddam, as he stood to leave the courtroom, and the two exchanged blows.
It is not clear as to whether Saddam was hurt.
The statement said that the head of the tribunal did nothing to stop the assault.
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