Thanks to Josh Adlakha for his compilation and translation
IRAQ: Al-Sadr Announces the Creation of a Special Force to Fight the American Army
Muqtada al-Sadr issued a statement Friday which announced the formation of a new combat force dedicated to confronting the American army. In a Al-Sadr statement read at mosques supporting him it was announced that: "The resistance will be limited to one group only, and I will identify this group personally in the near future." It added: "The carrying of weapons will be limited to this group and it will exclusively confront the occupation, and it is forbidden from targeting any other side.."
Full Article (Al-Manar in Arabic): http://almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=46291&language=ar
ISRAEL/SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia Proposes Draft Resolution Demanding Dismantling of Settlements, Israel Announces New Settlement Project In Jerusalem to Construct 1300 Homes
For the second time this month, Israel announced plans for a new settlement project in occupied East Jerusalem arousing Palestinian Anger on the eve of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's scheduled visit to Israel. The visit aims to salvage the faltering peace process.
Full Article (Al-Arabiya in Arabic): http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/06/13/51449.html
Iraq: Al-Maliki Confirms Continued Negotiations With Washington Despite Obstacles
The Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki said that discussions with Washington on the security agreement concerning U.S. troops in Iraq would continue despite the fact that certain aspects of the talks had come to a standstill. Al-Maliki explained to a number of Jordanian newspaper editors in Amman that "we reached an impasse because when we went to negotiations we found American demands imbalanced and greatly prejudicial to the sovereignty of Iraq and we could never accept this." He added: "we cannot continue to allow the right of Americans to arrest Iraqis or allow them to assume responsibility for combating terrorism independently."
Full Article (Al-Jazeera in Arabic): http://www.aljazeera.net/NR/EXERES/8FEFA028-53D0-4830-9326-F71596B14249.htm
Iraq/Turkey: Al-Maliki Calls On Turkey To Train Its Army, Turkish Planes Bomb Iraqi Villages in Dohuk Province
Iraqi prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki requested Turkish assistance in providing training to the Iraqi army and police. Meanwhile, Turkish aircraft bombed villages located in the northern Iraqi province of Dohuk.
Full Article (Azzaman in Arabic): http://www.azzaman.com/index.asp?fname=2008\06\06-10\997.htm&storytitle=
