Highlights

1- 26-10-2003, the U.S Deputy of Secretary of Defense survived an assault on Al-Rasheed Hotel that was exposed to missile attacks launched from a launcher fixed a few hundred meters away from the hotel.

2- 27-10-2003, five explosives exploded in different parts in Baghdad, one of them outside the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross, while the other four targeted police stations .The Iraqi police succeeded in arresting a person who tried to bomb another police station. Reports confirmed that he was of Yemeni origin but carried a Syrian passport. These explosions killed 43 people and caused many civilian casualties.

The news of the week

The Coalition Provisional Authority formed an Iraqi Commission for Property Claims to hear property cases and respond to claims.

The Coalition Forces spokesman declared that the American forces will withdraw from Mosul, due to the stability in the city.

A U.S congressional delegation visited the Iraqi Ministry of Interior at a time when the Iraqi police academy was concluding a training cycle for new policemen.

The Suspension Bridge in Baghdad, a major artery across the Tigris, was reopened to the public after a closure of 6 months for security reasons.

Dar AL - Hikma held a conference that explored how a new Iraqi constitution might handle international treaties that ban discrimination against women.

At the end of its first conference, The Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq decided to convert the Badr Brigade to a political organization.

Four thousand antiquities were restored to the Iraqi National Museum after being stolen during the looting that followed military action last April.

The Iraqi Ministry of Finance declared the new budget for 2004, representing a positive step towards the reconstruction of Iraq. Kamil Al- Gailani, the Iraqi Minister of Finance, declared that the operating budget will be $13 billion, financed through oil revenues, while the deficit will be about $600 billion. This budget does not cover capital investment of reconstruction costs.

The Independent Iraqi Women's Organization, one of several that have been formed across Iraq, held its forth conference, which was attended by some international and civil organizations.

Iraq signed a contract to sell 50 thousand barrels of oil to Jordan per day. The oil shipment will go by sea to the port of Aqaba.

The Iraqi Minister of Construction and Housing said that Iraq needs 2.5 million new residential units.

The Iraqi Ministry of Health decided to ban canned meats from being sold in the Iraqi markets as a prevention procedure to protect Iraqis from diseases that these meats might cause.

The Transitional Justice conference was held in Baghdad with the participation of the Minister for Human Rights, as well as civic associations and organizations concerned with human rights documentation.

Arab and international financial organizations declared the establishment of the International Advisory and Monitoring Board that was adopted by the U.N Security Council in Resolution 1483 last April.

The American Administration in Iraq confirmed the assassination of Faris Abdul Razzaq, deputy mayor of Baghdad, near his house.

The Central Bureau of Statistics started a survey of the work force to provide statistics about work opportunities.

The Governing Council in Iraq discussed suggestions related to the mechanism of forming the constitutional council. They will evaluate three options submitted on October 1 by a preparatory committee formed for this purpose.

The Iraqi Governing Council decided to participate in the Paris Club meeting to discuss canceling or rescheduling Iraq's debts.

The Governing Council called on neighboring states to close their borders with Iraq to stop infiltrators from entering Iraqi territories. Infiltrators are suspected of participating in acts of terrorism and sabotage.

Abdul Rahman Sediq , the Iraqi minister of environment, announced that there were signs of nuclear contamination in Al- Towaitha to the south of Baghdad.

An independent Christian committee was formed in Baghdad, with the aim of unifying Christian points of view towards the state and the people of Iraq.

The French International Organization for the Handicapped organized a lecture about the dangers of mines and unexploded ordnance.

Comments:

The first day of Ramadhan, or what is now called "the bloody day", witnessed five explosions that left many civilians dead or injured at a time when citizens were preparing to receive Ramadhan with hopes for more security in Iraqi cities, especially Baghdad. Iraqis expressed their rejection of the trend towards violence and terrorism that exposes their lives to danger every day. Iraqis view this violence as an attempt to derail the efforts of Iraqi police to maintain peace and security, especially as these efforts have in recent weeks succeeded in capturing criminals and reducing the number of crimes in Baghdad.