British firms press for rebuilding contracts in Iraq

LONDON, April 10 - Top British companies are pressingthe government to help them win a slice of the key contracts for rebuilding war-torn Iraq, according to business sources Thursday.Officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for International Development will now try to offer further reassurance, the sources said.

Following the collapse of the Saddam Hussein's government in Baghdad, the British Consultants and Construction Bureau (BCCB), representing more than 300 top firms, are meeting Whitehall officials about their concerns.

Tony Blair has already denied suggestions that American companies will profit out of the war by winning the valuable reconstruction work.The contracts to rebuild Iraq's shattered infrastructure are expected to total more than 600 million pounds or 468 million US dollars.

Some British businesses feel they lost out in the first Gulf War, despite British forces playing a leading role in liberating Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion.BCCB chief executive Colin Adams said, "Many UK firms have a great deal of experience in Iraq, know relevant Iraqi professionals and thus have a great deal to offer."He said, "Ignoring this experience, especially if the idea is to rebuild the country quickly, would be not a little short-sighted."

American government agency US Aid is planning to fund moves to build five airports and set up a health service.BCCB said it is natural for US Aid to give the lead contracts to American companies. But it said there is a strong case for the US Government to allow British firms to bid for sub-contracts.They are also pushing for the Ministry of Defense to look out for opportunities for British firms. Government officials are expected to tell BCCB on Thursday thatup to half of the work will be sub-contracted out, with British companies set to get a fair share.

German police raid extremist Islamic group

BERLIN, April 10- Germany police Friday staged pre-dawn nationwide raids on homes and offices of an extremist Islamicgroup which was banned earlier this year, according to press reports. More than 80 sites in 11 states were searched for evidence linking 11 suspects to the banned Hisb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic Liberation Party), Interior Minister Otto Schily said.

The Islamic party was banned in Germany in January for its rolein a rally at Berlin's Technical University last October.The rally was marked by anti-Semitic slogans and attendance of German right-wing extremists. German law enforcement agencies have put Hisb ut-Tahrir al-Islami under surveillance for some time, the reports said. Last year, the homes and apartments of party supporters were also raided.

Switzerland tightens grip on Iraqi assets

GENEVA, April 10 -- The Swiss government has formally blocked all Iraqi assets linked to Saddam Hussein's regime until the United Nations decides where the money should go, according toa report from Swiss Radio International (SRI) on Thursday. The report said the decision came in response to a request from the United States to prevent the withdrawal of any Iraqi government or corporate funds.

Swiss officials said the measures would not apply to ordinary Iraqi citizens holding bank accounts in Switzerland. The Foreign Ministry said the action complied with US demands that assets of the Iraqi state should be preserved for the people of Iraq.

Under a 1990 UN resolution, Swiss banks are not allowed to transfer any assets they hold to the Iraqi government or firms linked to the regime.The latest development tightens these restrictions by requiringbanks to freeze deposits.

However, the Swiss authorities ignored Washington's demand to hand over assets to a US-controlled Iraqi government, saying the transfer of money depended on a new UN resolution, according to SRI.The United States asked Switzerland on March 21 to block any assets that might belong to Iraqi leaders and to prepare to transfer them to the Iraqi civilian population.

Shortly before the request was sent, Swiss Financial Minister Kaspar Villiger told the parliament that there was no evidence showing that the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, had a bank account in Switzerland

Germany urges US, UK to protect embassies in Baghdad

BERLIN, April 10 -- German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Thursday called on the US-led coalition forced in Iraq to protect diplomatic missions in the war-torn country after looters poured into the German embassy and a French cultural center in Baghdad.

"We expect that the allies, who are responsible for security, will extend security to international diplomatic missions," Fischer said after talks with his Japanese counterpart Yoriko Kawaguchi in Berlin. Hundreds of looters poured onto the streets of central Baghdad and dozens of them sacked the German embassy in Karada Street and the French cultural center in Abu Nawwas Street.

The looters, who entered the embassy in cars and even on horseback, seized anything they could find, including furniture, refrigerators and video machines. The cultural center was also looted, though the French embassy was sealed off by barricades. France and Germany have been strongly opposed to the US-led warin Iraq.

Saddam Seeking Asylum In Russia - Al Jazeera

Courtesy of Republicons.org
April 10, 2003

Al Jazeera, the Qatar based news agency, is reporting that Saddam Hussein may be attempting to negotiate an last minute agreement that would give him safe transport out of Baghdad. And there were unconfirmed reports that Hussein has taken refuge in the Russian embassy in the Iraqi capital. Al Jazeera's correspondent in Moscow reported earlier today that the Russian delegation that came under fire from US forces as it left Baghdad on 7 April may have been dealing with senior representatives of the Iraqi government in guaranteeing a safe exit for Saddam Hussein.

"This explains the lack of resistance by the Republican Guard and Iraqi forces," a Russian general told Al-Jazeera on condition of anonymity.

Akram Khouzam, Al-Jazeera's reporter in Moscow, reports that the general's claim may explain the absence of organized resistance in Iraq, even in the capital itself where communications could not have been disrupted completely. Meanwhile Berri pointed out that Russian ambassador Vladimir Titorenko had returned to Baghdad after evacuating it on Saturday, following a visit to Moscow by US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice.

"Saddam Hussein could have found refuge in the Russian embassy in Baghdad," Berri told journalists, giving no further backing for his statement.