Iraq–United States relations

Iraq 'apologises' to Jordan after Saddam supporters beaten

Agence France-PresseMay 21, 2013 16:30

Jordan on Tuesday summoned the Iraqi charge d'affaires after employees at Baghdad's embassy beat and kicked Jordanian supporters of Saddam Hussein at a seminar on mass graves in Amman. "The foreign ministry today summoned the Iraqi charge d'affaires to condemn this assault that contradicts all diplomatic norms," Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh told the lower house of parliament in a televised meeting. "The charge d'affaires was told that Jordan does not accept such actions."

Iraq still using phony bomb detectors at checkpoints

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 09:20

A policeman in Baghdad knows the bomb detector he uses is fake, and will do virtually nothing to save anyone's life, but he has his orders. "If I were given a mop and told that it detects bombs in cars, I would still do it without any hesitation," he told AFP, asking not to be identified. "The device is a 100-percent failure and we know that, but it is imposed on us; we cannot disobey direct orders," he added.

U.S. soldier who fled to Canada to avoid Iraq war gets 10 months in jail

The Canadian PressApril 29, 2013 15:03

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A soldier in the U.S. Army who fled to Canada to avoid a second tour of duty in Iraq has been sentenced to 10 months in prison. Kimberly Rivera pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of desertion and was sentenced to the prison term and received a bad-conduct discharge. The 30-year-old has said she became disillusioned with the U.S. mission in Iraq while serving there in 2006. During a two-week leave in the U.S. in 2007, Rivera crossed the Canadian border after she was ordered to serve another tour in Iraq.

Russia warns against WMD search as pretext for ousting Assad

Agence France-PresseApril 29, 2013 06:01

Russia on Monday warned the West against using a search for weapons of mass destruction in Syria as an excuse for ousting President Bashar al-Assad along the lines of the notorious hunt for deadly arms in Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov questioned why UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was calling for a fact-finding mission in Syria by citing unproven claims of the regime's use of chemical weapons in December.

Iraq anti-Qaeda chief threatens war on militants

Agence France-PresseApril 27, 2013 08:15

The head of the Sahwa anti-Qaeda militia in Iraq has threatened war on militants if they do not turn over those who have killed Iraqi soldiers, state television reported on Saturday. If those responsible are not handed over, "the Sahwa will take the requested procedures and do what it did in 2006," Sheikh Wissam al-Hardan was quoted as saying. In 2006, Sahwa militiamen fought pitched battles against Sunni militants, helping turn the tide of the Iraq war. wd/al

Obama talks tough, shows no rush to act on Syria chemical arms evidence

Thomson ReutersApril 26, 2013 13:30

By Matt Spetalnick and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned Syria on Friday that its use of chemical weapons would be a "game changer" for the United States but made clear he was in no rush to intervene in the Syrian civil war on the basis of evidence he said was still preliminary.

AFP 0100 GMT News Advisory

Agence France-PresseApril 25, 2013 21:45

Duty Editor: Alex Millson Tel: +852 2829 6211 -- TOP STORIES -- + US says Syria likely used chemicals against rebels + Boston bomb accused 'planned to attack Times Square' + Samsung releases much-hyped Galaxy S4 smartphone Syria-conflict-US-weapons,update-WRAP WASHINGTON The United States says for the first time that Syria has likely used chemical weapons against rebel forces, but emphasizes spy agencies are still not 100 percent sure of the assessment.

Bush 'comfortable' with decision to invade Iraq

Agence France-PresseApril 24, 2013 21:30

Former US president George W. Bush says he remains "comfortable" with the decision to invade Iraq, even as a new spate of bloody violence hit the country and rocked politics in Baghdad. Bush told ABC News in an interview marking the opening of his presidential library on Thursday that it was up to history to judge the invasion of Iraq in 2003, prompted by fears of weapons of mass destruction that were never found.

Young restless Iraqis grapple with authority

Agence France-PresseApril 18, 2013 23:15

After a quick glance in his rear-view mirror, Mustafa smiled confidently. With a flick of the wrist, the 22-year-old launched his motorcycle into a wheelie for the delighted crowd. But then, moments after he revved his bike and shifted into gear, sirens blared and suddenly police were everywhere as the assembled youths dispersed manically in all directions. "It's always like this -- the police don't want us to have any fun," muttered Ahmed, an organiser of the weekly gathering of young Iraqi motorcycle enthusiasts in the capital's up-scale Jadriyah neighbourhood.

Iraq bombings kill eight

Agence France-PresseApril 16, 2013 08:31

Bombings in Iraq, including one against a governor's convoy, killed eight people on Tuesday, a day after a wave of attacks left 50 dead ahead of the first elections since US troops withdrew. A car bomb killed four people and wounded 15 in Aziziyah, while a roadside bomb killed a soldier and wounded two near Mussayib, both south of the Iraqi capital, security and medical officials said.