Clandestine Radio Watch 132 Extra
--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 132 EXTRA xxxxxxxxxx--------------
CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH Iraq Special
April 24, 2003
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------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx----------------
IRAQ : Radio Sumer replaces Radio Tikrit
IRAQ : Voice of the Mujahedin on 720 kHz (see 'logs' and 'misc')
...............................................................
IRAQ : Radio Sumer replaces Radio Tikrit
A station identifying as Radio Sumer was heard in place of Radio Tikrit
from 1910 to 2100 gmt on 21 April. Radio Tikrit could not be traced,
although it had been heard by BBC Monitoring the previous day, on 20
April.
The name Sumer is the ancient name for the land and early civilization of
the southern region of what is now Iraq, between the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers.
The location of the studios and transmitters of Radio Sumer and Radio
Tikrit is unknown.
Radio Tikrit was named after the city of Saddam Husayn's birth, which was
also a stronghold of the former regime. It was first heard by BBC
Monitoring on 7 February 2003 pursuing a pro-Saddam Husayn line but had
changed by 15 February 2003 to an anti-Saddam line.
The programming of Radio Sumer was in the same style as Radio Tikrit and
would appear to be a direct replacement. It included a satirical song in
a rap-style, which had previously been aired on Radio Tikrit.
In addition to the mediumwave transmission on 1584 kHz, Radio Tikrit had
recently been traced on a Eutelsat Hot Bird satellite at 13 degrees east.
That signal was replaced by Radio Sumer on 21 April.
Following is a summary of what was apparently the first broadcast by
Radio Sumer:
at 1910 gmt on 21 April 2003:
1. Song
2. Announcement: "Dear listeners, we salute you from Sumer Radio and now
the news bulletin":
a. Saddam's son-in-law Jamal Abdallah Sultan surrenders to coalition
forces
b. Former Iraqi higher education and scientific research arrested by US
troops
c. Gen Jay Garner makes first tour of Baghdad
d. US says does not recognize Baghdad civilian authority set up by Muhsin
al-Zubaydi
e. British Defence Ministry says bodies of two British soldiers killed in
Iraq and shown on Al-Jazeera TV found in cemetery south of the country
f. Mass graves discovered in Baghdad and elsewhere
g. US military experts find first indications of Iraq's weapons of mass
destruction, New York Times says
Announcement: "More news from Sumer Radio":
h. Syrian foreign minister says border with Iraq closed
I. President Mubarak visits United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Syria
j. Arab League head Amr Musa rejects accusation of bias over Iraq
3. Song
4. Political analysis on the importance of the reopening of Baghdad
airport
5. Song
6. Commentary on Saddam's wars since he took power in 1979
7. Song
8. Continuing commentary in item 6
9. Repeat of Saddam rap song
10. Continuing commentary in item 6
11. Song
12. News:
a. Thousands of Iraqi Shi'a pilgrims pour to Karbala
b. Iraqi Christians celebrate Easter and other news
c. Preparations under way to reopen Baghdad airport
d. List of names of 415 people executed by former regime found at
headquarters of Iraqi intelligence services
e. Jordanian authorities thwart attempt at smuggling Saddam's personal
belongings and valuable objects taken from Baghdad museum
f. US troops say found 650m dollars in one of Saddam's palaces and not in
a deserted old house as reported
g. Syrian foreign minister says border with Iraq closed
13. Song
14. Commentary on Ba'th party's control of Iraqi army
15. Song
16. Continuing commentary in item 14
17. Song
18. Commentary on the current situation described as normal after the
fall of any dictatorship
19. News as item 2
Source: Radio Sumer in Arabic 1910 gmt 21 Apr 03
(BBCM Apr 21, 2003 for CRW)
Radio Sumer on 1584 kHz!
Hello Dxers, picking that station today 22/4/03 around 20.30 UTC on 1584
kHz with news briefs about Iraq, ID , a report about arresting al Zubaidy
ydy in Baghdad let's listen to this program a man shouting " THE
CRIMINALS " - the criminals who destroyed Iraq with sad music in the back
ground , then a report about the history of Alzubaidy he started as a
worker in a hospital in Baghdad and then joined Al Ba'ath Party ....he
divorced his wife and married a political marriage according to Saddam's
orders leaving his ex wife and children with no means of support....etc.
he killed so many young men and finally he was arrested in Baghdad ydy.
20.45 ID followed by the news read by IBRAHIM NASER - [ I'm REALLY happy
to get the name of this guy...why? coz he's the man whom I said he works
for Both Information Radio and R. Tikrit - so far he's the ONLY announcer
I could hear on R.Sumer he's doing almost everything starting from the
ID, Reading the news ...almost everything! he must be a big guy ;)]
100000 of shi'ite gather in Karbala, the arrest of another Iraqi official
the 8th in the 55 list , Jay Garner meets the Kurdish officials in
Kurdistan and the student's of the Sulaiminya UNI, ID, Saudi Arabia
helping in getting some Iraqi's to have medical care in Saudi Arabia
using the Airport of Baghdad,Richard Mayers declares that they found
weapons hidden in Karkook , Blair says " Iraq will be ruled only by the
Iraqis "
Music, Dear listeners from R.Sumer we wish you a pleasant night , good
night and alsalam alykom -Peace be upon you- end of transmission 21.00
UTC
Well nothing special the same stuff almost by no messages t the Iraqi ppl
or the Iraqi troops this time , mainly news and programs about the ex
officials of the ba'ath Party.
Waiting to see if Radio Almustaqbal is still on 21.30 tonight or not.
(T.Zeidan-EGY Apr 22, 2003 in HCDX-ML)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx--------------------
------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx-------------------------
Logs - IRAQ
Information Radio
4500 Info radio 1820 wit pop songs. One short ID at 1824 then with short
signal gap then with Arabic songs. New Id at 1854 as “Idaat R Al
Maulumaat’ At 1900 sign off, S9, 34223
(Z.Liangas-GRC Apr 5, 2003 in JAP 260)
4500, Information R, 1550-2000*, Apr 02, 05 and 06, Arabic ID`s, messages
to Iraqis, Arabic and western pop songs, QRM from Xinjiang until its sign
off 1800*, then excellent: 45444 !
(A.Petersen-DNK DSWCI DX Window Apr 10, 2003 via DXLD 3-062)
I can even hear it on my computer (with ICOM PCR-1000 receiver).
(R.Wernli-SUI DSWCI DX Window Apr 10, 2003 via DXLD 3-062)
9715, Information Radio, via EC-130 Command Solo, 2200-2220, Apr 04,with
Arab pop music, clear Arabic ID twice, short Arabic talk then again Arab
pop music 23433
(K.Bredahl Jørgensen-DNK DSWCI DX Window Apr 10, 2003 via DXLD 3-062)
In the last few days Information radio used to go off the air on 4500 kHz
around 20.00 UTC, now it's 20.56 UTC and they are still on with the Same
ID Idhaat radio Alma'loumat . Tried to get them earlier around 17.00 UTC
but it was impossible..now they are loud and clear. All this talking
about changing the ID is really interesting.. but ..when will it take
place...reckon no one can tell.
(T.Zeidan-EGY Apr 10, 2003 for CRW)
9715, tent. Information Radio, 2027 Apr 12 with AR female vocal, but soon
into all-talk format by man and woman. Very choppy signal, many ups and
downs, building but not strong overall. Blocked when RL xmtr (sked
Holzkirchen) came on at 2058, and the fqy was empty when RL went off at
2158. Something there after 0200 Apr 13 as well, but not enough to work
with.
(J.Berg-MA-USA Apr 12, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)
Information Radio is audible with sufficient signal on 9715 Khz in AM
mode, I've listened to an indentification just like "RADIO AL-MA'ULUMAT"
(R.Scaglione-I Apr 17, 2003 in Shortwave-ML)
4500, Information R via Command Solo flying near Baghdad, 1910-2200*, Apr
18, prolonged broadcast in Arabic, messages by man and woman about the
"liberation of Iraq", U.S. and Arab pop songs, ID’s. Still heard very
strongly: 45434. In April 2002 Lieutenant Edward E. Shank, Chief of
Public Affairs, 193rd Special Operations Wing, did issue QSLs on similar
Command Solo flights over Afghanistan, so it is worth sending him your
reception reports to edward.shank@paharr.ang.af.mil
(A.Petersen-DNK Apr 18, 2003 for CRW)
4500, Information Radio, 2025-2125 Apr 22, caught me on my heels with ID
right while I tuned in, then your retired general talked very weakly
under AR translation. Signal faded--sometimes quite strong, sometimes
weak. Only talk and some very short western mx interludes. Seemingly
another AR-linked language at 2100, seemingly 2125 when AR again, still
at 2135. Nothing on 11292 nor 9715 when checked. At 2039 I noticed
possible AR shouting from another AR stn (very weakly) on same fqy for a
few minutes, then disappeared. Definitely not same stn, but if one of the
"jumpers" I couldn't find it. Will give it more try.
(F.Krone-DNK Apr 22, 2003 via J.Berg-USA in DXplorer-ML)
Radio Yaran
7525 R Yaran ? 1847 man talking in conditions abt Iraq. same for next man
on 1856 refereed also to Sadam and on Mujahedeen. At 1909 with poetic
type talks over music Address at 1932 All program is in Farsi. Signal
44434, S9+10 max
(Z.Liangas-GRC Apr 11, 2003 in JAP 260)
Voice of the Democratic Assyrian Movement, Ashur Radio
Vo the Democratic Assyrian Movement, Ashur Radio 9155,0 or 9154,9 kHz
heard 13/4 from +0810 til fading out after 0900, low signal but readable.
I could not hear since late March the afternoon transmissions, which were
1600 - 1800 s/off, any news?
(W.von Pöllnitz-POL Apr 13, 2003 for CRW)
Voice of Iraqi Liberation
4026.1, Voice of Liberation of Iraq, 1808-1923*, Apr 09, Arabic talk
about Iraq, military band music, messages about the liberation of Baghdad
the same afternoon, military band music in the background. 35343
(A.Petersen-DNK Apr 9, 2003 for CRW)
Voice of Iraqi People
9570 V of people of Iraq, Arabic songs till 1600, ID “ shaab iraqi with
news from NBC and Fox, S9+ 10 Also on 2050 subharmonic 4785 has been
found
(Z.Liangas-GRC Apr 2, 2003 in JAP 260)
3900.0, Voice of the Iraqi People, Iraqi Kurdistan, 1925-1935 on
prolonged schedule, Arabic talks about Iraq, complete ID`s at 1929, 1932
and 1933: "Sawt al-Shab al-Iraqi, idha`atu al-Hizb al-Shuju`i al-Iraqi",
Arab music, 44444. Usual parallel 5900v was inaudible
(A.Petersen-DNK DSWCI DX Window Apr 10, 2003 via DXLD 3-062)
5883.0, Voice of the People, Iraqi Kurdistan, 1855-1930, Apr 12, Arabic
talk heard // 3900.0 - drift from 5900. 33443
(A.Petersen-DNK Apr 12, 2003 for CRW)
VO Iraqi Republic/VO Iraqi People. 15/04/2003 @ 0039 UTC. Reception was
on 9570 kHz. It was moderate to good. I listened to many reports and
messages targeted to Iraqi people, telling then to refuse the US
occupation of Iraq. They say to them that they should decide the future
of their country by them selves. So, I wasn't correct when I said that
This station is supported by the CIA. It can't be a US supported station!
(A.Chaabane-TUN Apr 13, 2003 for CRW)
VOICE OF IRAQI PEOPLE on 3900 kHz at 1907 with clear ID in Arabic? at
1930 sounded like "ash-shaa... Iraq abu radiya" two times in row (Sorry
for unprofessional tranlitelation). Weak when I started to hear but good
and stable audio from 1925.
(A.Prokhorov-RUS Apr 14, 2003 in CDX-ML)
Voice of the Mujahedin on 720 kHz
Radio Voice of Mujahedin on 720 kHz -- I heard an Arabic -speaking
station on 720 kHz on 11th of April at 1618-1630 UT. It gave its ID
clearly as 'Huna idha'at Sawt til' Mujahedin' several times. Words
'shawra til' islamiya' repeated also. What is it? There is a shortwave
station called Voice of Mujahedin targeting Iran and transmitting in
Farsi. But this was speaking Arabic and (probably) targeting Iraq. There
are couple of powerful transmitter in Iran on this frequency. The word
'Mujahedin' means 'Freedom Fighter', so it can be deployed by many
oppositional organizations. Could this be pro-shia -mouslim station
targeting Iraq sponsored by Iranians? Or a title of a new 'radio channel'
of IRIB?
(P.Lintujärvi-FIN Apr 13, 2003 in DXing.info via DXLD 3-064)
V O Mujahieen on 720 kHz! : I managed to get V O Mujahidin on 16.35 UTC
with QRM from the BBC Arabic there was an analysis about the current
situation in Iraq saying that they replaced Saddam with
garner....followed by a man shouting in a very high tone.."MY Dear Iraqi
Brothers ...Fight those unbelievers fight the Americans ....ALLAH
AKBAR.."followed by a patriotic song then an ID..huna Idhaat Sout Al
Mujahidin, followed by a sort of chanting song with no music...as they
don't play musical hits - just like IRIB's Arabic section - followed by
an OM welcoming the listeners and wishing them that they enjoy the next
program which called the "religious follow ship" very had to translate
that..mainly religious talk about who was Iraq ruled from a religious
point of view followed by another patriotic song.
17.00 UTC ID and the detailed news, the Friday prayer in Baghdad followed
by a demo.
17.05 till 17.15 had to run and record the latest shots of saddam hussien
walking in Baghdad taken on 9/4/03 aired by Abu Dhabi TV and followed by
the last speech by Saddam which didn't have the chance to go on the air
on Baghdad radio. ( exclusive Abu Dhabi TV) great stuff really
17.16 news commentary about thousands of ppl. prayed the Friday prayers
in Karba'laa and alnajaf..criticizing that the Media didn't show the
Friday prayers in these shiiet cities..don't those who represent 70% of
the Iraqi ppl shedding some media light on them?
followed by a another chanting sad song for the shiiet..same chanting I
used to hear in the Arabic section of IRIB..with an ID Dear listeners U R
listening to V O Mhjahideen around 17.20 UTC ....contentious chanting
till 17.27 ID Huna Idhaat sout al mujahideen..followed by the well known
patriotic song ALLAH AKBAR ( BTW it's now the national anthem of
Libya..but originally it's an Egyptian song released during the
British,frensh and Israeli attack on Egypt 1956 which known as Suez
crisis)
17.30 an ID and then a news brief , mainly about the situation in Iraq
and some world news related to it.
fading....but anyway ..typically Iranian style beamed to the Iraqi Shiiet
more to come after some more observations.
(T.Zeidan-EGY Apr 17, 2003 in HCDX-ML)
Radio Voice of Mujahedin on 720 kHz: I listened to this station again on
the evening of 17th of April at 1717 UTC. This time the ID was more
comprehensive. It went something like this (be warned, the
transliteration is far away from perfect): 'Sawt'ul Mujahedin. Idha'atu
kumulati ta ikum ala mouzeti FM. Megda ruha 90.1 ('tizayn bareza wahid')
megahertz. Balakalika ala mouzatyn mutawaka tatem, tuluha 720 ('sabamea
wa ishrin-a') kilohertz." So it appears to be an established station with
fixed frequencies. The signal is powerful; it is among first ones to pop
up in the band as the twilight zone comes near. But what is it? My bet is
on one of the
listed Iranian transmitter sites; Tayebad or Shahr-e-Kord. Maybe the
latter one?
(P.Lintujärvi-FIN Apr 18, 2003 in dxing.info via DXLD 3-070)
Congratulations to Pentti for your EXCELLENT finding and many thanks to
Tarek for your detailed observations on the programming! I also heard
this station yesterday evening, and posted a recording of the station
identification in the Audio section of DXing.info. As you can hear, the
reception quality was not too good... used a random wire now that I have
taken down my K9AY for the summer so that our backyard can be used for
other activities than just DXing...
BBC Monitoring caught the following station identification: "Voice of the
Mujahidin, the radio of freedom, the radio of the truth. Our esteemed
listeners everywhere, our programmes come to you on 90.1 MHz FM and on
720 kHz mediumwave." The Service is speculating that the Voice of
Mujahedin is run by SCIRI and is hinting that it could be a replacement
for the Voice of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, "which was observed
intermittently in the 1980s and 1990s on frequencies used by the Iranian
radio's Arabic service. This radio has not been observed by BBC
Monitoring in recent years."
This is interesting, because when I scanned the frequencies in February
and March for the article "Monitoring Iraq: War of the Airwaves", the
Voice of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq was a piece of cake, heard every
morning on 7100 and 9535 kHz. I haven't checked it recently, but here's a
sample station identification from the end of February.
BTW: Radio Voice of the Mujahedin, the Voice of New Iraq and other recent
radio developments in the area are listed in the News - I will no longer
update the article "Monitoring Iraq", but eventually there will be a new
article about the broadcasting scene in post-war Iraq. I guess that the
BBC Monitoring Service now has a monitor in Iraq or Kuwait but probably
no one else has logged the Voice of New Iraq? It's a very difficult
frequency here
(M.Mäkeläinen-FIN Apr 18, 2003 in dxing.info via DXLD 3-070)
------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------
------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------
Misc - IRAQ
--- Al-Mustaqbal
--- Baghdad on 1170 kHz
--- Information Radio
--- Iraqi Media
--- Iraqi Radio
--- Iraqi TV
--- Psyop for Iraq
--- Radio Free Iraq
--- Radio in Basra (?)
--- Radio in Um Quasar
--- Radio Tikrit
--- Towards Freedom TV
--- US Media for Iraq
--- Voice of Rebellious Iraq
--- Voice of the Liberation of Iraq
--- Voice of the Mujahidin
--- Al-Mustaqbal
AL-MUSTAQBAL (THE FUTURE) RADIO PICTURE BULLETIN 2322 GMT 14 APRIL
2003
Al-Mustaqbal (The Future), the radio of the Iraqi National Accord, was
heard on 14 April around 2322 gmt on 1575 kHz making the following
announcement: "Al-Mustaqbal Radio, the Voice of the Iraqi National
Accord." It was followed by patriotic song on the love of the homeland.
- Music.
- "Urgent appeal": "O zealous sons of Iraq; O lofty sons of al-Rafidayn;
O members of our heroic armed forces; This is your awaited day, the very
moment you have been very eagerly waiting for - a new and pleasant dawn.
This is your day O steadfast, compassionate and lofty ones; O sons of the
Tigris and Euphrates; O sons of Zab, Al-Khabur, Al-Gharar, Shatt
al-Hillah, al-Ahwar which is crying, and dear old Shatt al-Arab. "Today
is the moment to carry out a real act of national heroism, as well as
heroic epics by hitting at every den of evil and criminality - dens that
have created havoc and mayhem in our country lately. "This is your day O
free men of Iraq. The day which God Almighty has chosen for you as a
rendezvous with the dawn of your freedom, the very freedom which the
tyrants and his henchmen suppressed during their gloomy rule.
"O lovers of freedom and emancipation who want to rid themselves of the
shackles of Saddam's stupidity and slavery; God has sanctioned you should
seek vengeance for what has happened to you, to your families, to your
heroes, and to your martyrs and victims who had been annihilated by the
antagonistic and hideous machine of the
tyrant.
"God has sanctioned that we should seek vengeance on these glory days
from the tyrant of the modern era, from Saddam, his executioners and
criminal thieves - those who battered carelessly battered the homeland
and its sanctities... "Do not let this opportunity slip away this time.
Your homeland and future generations are looking at you to deliver Iraq
from the filthy Saddamist gang which is about to collapse forever."
- Music, patriotic songs and anti-Saddam chants.
- Talk: "Saddam, the enemy of humanity." Report on Saddam's "criminal"
activities in Baghdad, highlighting the degradation of daily life in the
capital under his rule.
- Music
- Anti-Saddam chants
- Talk: "The fall of Saddam and his regime: a historical inevitability."
Reviewing the peaceful efforts made by several Arab countries to convince
Saddam to relinquish power and seek asylum somewhere else. But it was to
no avail, because megalomaniac Saddam refused as he never cared about
Iraq and its people.
- Music
(BBCM Apr 16, 2003 in DXLD 3-067)
--- Baghdad on 1170 kHz
Baghdad Back On The Air 1170 kHz!
Hello Dxers, got some news for you..was listening to the BBC Arabic
section today and I was lucky enough to hear a report about the return of
Radio Baghdad .. they were interviewing a guy called professor al'aa
Sadek -I think-...he's responsible of the media and he mentioned that
Radio Baghdad restarted broadcasting on 1170 kHz from 21.00 p.m till 1.00
a.m Baghdad time and the programs mainly music and announcements that
this station will start broadcasting regularly on this frequency and
welcoming reports. he also mentioned that this transmission is covering
all Iraq....(well...I doubt it! TZ) Baghdad time is UTC + 4. Some words
as well about having some private radio&TV stations but not in the near
future.
(T.Zeidan-EGY Apr 17, 2003 in HCDX-ML)
Iraq on 1170 kHz
The military activity in Iraq may have subsided, but this is just the
start of a period of intense media activity. Over the past couple of days
we've learned that an embryonic post-Saddam radio and TV service has
already started. In Baghdad, we understand the radio schedule to be
1700-2100 UTC on 1170 kHz. There are also reports of a 20 kW radio
transmitter at Umm Qasr that can cover "all of Iraq". We haven't found
out the frequency of this one yet. It's much harder to get information
now that many of the war correspondents have been withdrawn. You'll find
all the week's developments in our dossier at
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/iraq030319.html
(A.Sennit-HOL / Radio Netherlands MediaNetwork Apr 18, 2003 in MN-NL)
--- Information Radio
PICTURE BULLETIN OF US PSY-OPS INFORMATION RADIO IN ARABIC 1555 GMT 8
APRIL 03
First 8 minutes unheard.
- Music.
- Message to the Iraqis: Tyrannical Saddam ordered in 1991 his troops to
set alight the Kuwait oil fields to destroy that country's
infrastructure. He was not alone in doing so; he had the support of his
clique. Today there are indications once more that the despot might be
sending similar orders to his henchmen. This time of course, the only
thing different is that it is the Iraqi infrastructure which is going to
be destroyed. In doing so, the despot will only prolong the suffering of
the Iraqi people and their children. If this were to be his final act, it
is an act of a desperate man. But of course, you and your children will
be the victim. In resisting the implementation of these criminal orders,
you will be helping in the speedy recovery of your country. The coalition
forces are doing their best to avoid the destruction of your country's
infrastructure. Any destruction by the despot will add to the suffering
of the Iraqi people, but will not hinder the efforts of the coalition
forces to rid Iraq of Saddam.
- Music.
- Appeal to the Iraqis on the need to treat POWs in accordance with
international law, stressing that no Iraqi POW will be treated badly by
the coalition forces, and calling on Iraqis to treat well any coalition
soldier or pilot they might stumble across. The appeal urged Iraqis to
behave in a peaceful manner towards each other and their neighbours,
saying that violent acts will only hinder the process of bringing about
peace to the country and starting the recovery process. The appeal urged
leaders of Iraqi tribes to put aside their differences and use their
wisdom to find peaceful solutions to the country problems. The appeal
went on to urge all Iraqis to forsake violence and resolve their
differences through dialogue and peaceful means.
- Talk stressing the determination to rebuild a new Iraq, calling on
Iraqis to contribute to the process by helping the Coalition Forces in
their efforts to eliminate Saddam and his cronies by either staying at
home or abiding by the instructions of the Coalition Forces when they are
on the road. The appeal went on to urge people to give information about
Saddam and his cronies, i.e. Ba'th Party leaders, intelligence members
and senior army officers. Such information will be treated in strict
confidentiality, the appeal stressed.
- Appeal to the Iraqis, reminding them that the hour of salvation is near
thanks to the friends and allies who decide to rid Iraq of Saddam and his
clique. It urges Iraqis to give such friends and allies all the necessary
support they may need to remove despot Saddam and his regime. The appeal
went on to affirm that the coalition forces are not after the country's
riches or anything else, just to remove criminal Saddam, his family and
cronies, and give Iraqis the opportunity to lead a free and dignified
life.
- Recording of Bush's address of last week during his meetings with
Marine families near Washington with superimposed Arabic translation.
(BBCM via DXLD 3-061)
--- Iraqi Media
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUNDUP AS OF 1630 GMT APRIL 8:
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was traced in northern Iraq, in the
area of Arbil, at 0400 gmt on 8 April on 603 kHz. The radio, thought to
be from a transmitter near Mosul, was carrying the same programming as
the Iraqi TV station in the region.
The radio has not been heard on any other mediumwave or shortwave
frequencies since 1800 gmt on 7 April. Iraqi radio was back on air, Abu
Dhabi TV reported at 0803 gmt on 8 April: "Following a 20-minute
interruption, the radio is now transmitting patriotic songs and music.
This also came on the heels of the stoppage of the television
transmission.
At 0852 gmt, BBC News Online reported that Iraqi domestic state radio was
off the air.
657 kHz unidentified pro-Saddam Husayn programming
Pro-Saddam Husayn programming has been heard in northern Iraq on the 657
kHz, the frequency of the Kurdish service of Republic of Iraq Radio for
northern Iraq. The programming is different from Republic of Iraq Radio
on 603 kHz, which is being heard in parallel with Republic of Iraq TV,
from the Mosul area of northern Iraq.
Internet -- No Iraqi Internet media sites are accessible.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 8 Apr 03 1630 gmt (via WORLD OF RADIO
1177, DXLD 3-061)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR NOTE 1800-2200 GMT 8 APRIL 03
Iraqi government radio, television and Internet media have not been
observed by BBC Monitoring between 1800 and 2200 gmt on 8 April. Iraq
Satellite Channel TV has been unobserved since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
Following is BBC Monitoring's round-up of observations and reports on the
status of Iraqi media from 1800 to 2200 gmt on 8 April 03:
Republic of Iraq Television
No video or audio has been observed on Iraq's domestic television service
on any of the known frequencies since 1500 gmt on 24 March.
Iraqi Satellite Channel Television
The channel has been unobserved on Arabsat 3A, NileSat, and Hotbird since
1618 gmt on 7 April.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service
The station has been unheard on the medium-wave frequency of 909 kHz
since 1800 gmt on 7 April. The radio remains unheard on all other known
frequencies.
Other radio stations
A radio station that identifies itself as "Information Radio" and carries
anti-Saddam reportage is heard on the medium-wave frequency of 756 kHz.
The station is unheard on the short-wave frequency of 9715 kHz. Iraqi
Voice of Youth Radio, which is run by Saddam's eldest son, Uday, has been
unheard on all known frequencies since 0430 gmt on 25 March.
Source: BBC Monitoring research in Arabic 8 Apr 03
(via DXLD 3-061)
IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 9 APR 03 [excerpts]
A report has been received by BBC Monitoring that Iraqi government radio
and television have been observed in northern Iraq. The Iraq Satellite
Channel has not been seen since 1618 gmt 7 April.
At 0838 gmt on 9 April Reuters news agency cited residents in Baghdad as
saying that Iraqi radio was broadcasting patriotic songs that morning,
"just one day after going off the air, but the signal was faint". The
report added: "Iraqi radio had been off the air since US forces stormed
into the western part of central Baghdad on Tuesday [8 April]. Iraqi
television remained blank and silent on Wednesday."
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service cannot be monitored by BBC
Monitoring. However, the radio was traced in northern Iraq, in the area
of Arbil, between 0400-0500 gmt and then from 0513 gmt on 9 April.
Programming was in parallel on both frequencies observed, 603 kHz and 657
kHz. The radio is thought to be from transmitters near Mosul. The radio
has not been heard on any other mediumwave or shortwave frequencies since
1800 gmt on 7 April.
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR REPORTS
Mixed Arab TV coverage of US troops, toppling of Saddam statue At a time
when most of the world's TV stations were showing US troops outside the
Palestine Hotel in central Baghdad, many state run-TV Arab channels;
Algerian, Moroccan, Sudanese, Syrian, Tunisian, were observed to ignore
the event and continued to carry scheduled programmes.
Some exceptions were Kuwaiti TV, Saudi TV and the Lebanese satellite
channel LBC.
However, pan-Arab TV stations Al-Jazeera, Abu Dhabi TV, Al-Arabiyah,
Iranian TV news channel Al-Alam and Hezbollah-linked Al-Manar TV, were
observed to carry live footage of the arrival of US troops outside the
journalists' hotel and the toppling of a nearby statue of Saddam Husayn.
(BBCM via DXLD 3-061)
NEW RADIO STATION, ARABIC DAILY REPORTEDLY TO LAUNCH IN IRAQ "WITHIN
DAYS" |
Text of report by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat web site on 9
April
Al-Sulaymaniyah: Al-Sharq al-Awsat has learnt that there are plans to
move a number of journalists and presenters working in Kurdistan to
another Iraqi city to set up an Iraqi radio station targeting Iraqis
inside Iraq.
In addition, a new Arabic daily newspaper that carries reports on the
developments of the war will be published to enlighten the Iraqis and
mobilize support for the coalition forces
(via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1177, DXLD 3-061)
IRAQ. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1630 GMT 10 APR 03
The US and British governments have set up a new Arabic-language TV
channel for viewers in Iraq, named "Towards Freedom". US President George
W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair would broadcast direct to
the Iraqi people on the new TV station when it launched on 10 April,
Downing Street announced. The broadcasts would be transmitted on a
frequency of Iraqi state TV from specially-equipped US C-130 Hercules
aircraft flying over Iraq. They would provide news and "coalition public
service announcements".
BBC Monitoring continues to receive reports on 10 April of transmitters
carrying pro-Saddam Husayn radio and TV in the area of northern Iraq. TV
and radio have not been reported on the air in Baghdad by any news
sources. Iraq Satellite Channel is not on the air. The following are BBC
Monitoring's observations for the 24-hour period ending 1630 gmt 10 April
2003:
Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
The satellite frequencies used by Iraq Satellite Channel have shown
colour bars since 1040 gmt on 9 April.
Republic of Iraq Television
The domestic TV channel cannot be observed by BBC Monitoring but has been
reported still on the air on 10 April in northern Iraq. The signal is
probably from a TV transmitter at Ninawah. As of 1105 gmt on 10 April,
the TV station was on the air carrying patriotic songs over a still
station identification caption. No normal programming has been observed.
No news sources have reported any TV services on the air in Baghdad.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service has been heard in northern Iraq on
657 kHz (location unknown) and 603 kHz mediumwave (believed to be a
transmitter at Ninawah near Mosul) during the reporting period. The
transmitter was off the air during observations at 1115 gmt.
On 657 kHz, the frequency of the Republic of Iraq's Kurdish radio
service, the following was observed:
1900-2100 gmt 9 April: National songs; most of the songs were about
Saddam, and some about jihad (holy war).
0300 gmt: Readings from the Holy Koran.
0300-0400 gmt: The announcer repeated twice: "This is Republic of Iraq
broadcasting from Baghdad."
0330 gmt: The 99 attributes of God.
0400-0600 gmt: Patriotic songs.
(excerpts: BBCM via DXLD 3-062)
BBC MONITORING EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Analysis: New media emerging for a new Iraq | Text of editorial analysis
by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 10 April
The US and British governments have set up a new Arabic-language TV
channel for viewers in Iraq, named "Towards Freedom". US President George
W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair would broadcast direct to
the Iraqi people on the new TV station when it launched on 10 April,
Downing Street announced.
A Downing Street spokesman added that the broadcasts would be transmitted
initially for one hour a day on a frequency of Iraqi state TV from
specially-equipped US C-130 Hercules aircraft flying over Iraq. They
would provide news and "coalition public service announcements".
In a statement to the House of Commons on 10 April, British Foreign
Secretary Jack Straw said, among other things: "... Our responsibilities
to the people of Iraq go well beyond immediate humanitarian relief. For a
generation, Iraqi people were starved of information both about
developments in their own country and in the wider world. But those days
when they had to labour under the lies spread by Saddam's propaganda
machine are at an end. I am pleased to announce that a new Arabic
television service, Towards Freedom, is being launched in Iraq today with
opening statements from my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister and
President Bush."
Messages broadcast on the new TV channel from the two leaders, recorded
on 8 April when they met for a summit in Northern Ireland, included
pledges to prosecute the war against Saddam Husayn until the end, and to
help rebuild Iraq. "I assure every citizen of Iraq, your nation will soon
be free... At this moment the regime of Saddam Husayn is being removed
from power and a long era of fear and cruelty is ending," international
news agencies cited President Bush as saying in his message.
The new US-UK TV channel will initially be available to viewers in
central Iraq, including Baghdad, before being extended nationwide.
Programming has been agreed following discussions with the Iraqi exile
community in London, British officials said. The service will last until
a "proper, free and open" media can be established, a British Foreign
Office spokesman was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile the US Arabic-language station Radio Sawa, the Voice of
America's Kurdish service and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Radio
Free Iraq are all being broadcast from FM transmitters in Arbil and
Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq.
As Iraqis wait for the US to announce the names of the officials who will
take over the interim administration of their country, significant
changes are already under way in the country's media.
Media reflect regime change
Journalists in Baghdad said that on 9 April Iraqi Information Minister
Mohammad Sa'id al-Sahhaf had failed to make his usual daily appearance. A
BBC reporter noted that the "broadcasting complex" next to the Ministry
of Information building was among the buildings in Baghdad now under
coalition control. And in another indication that power had slipped away
from Saddam Husayn's regime within Baghdad, the foreign media were free
on 9 April to operate for the first time without being monitored by
"minders" from the Information Ministry. On the afternoon of 9 April, TV
stations around the world showed live footage of a statue of Saddam
Husayn being toppled by crowds of Iraqis in a Baghdad square, assisted by
the US military.
Many pan-Arab TV channels carried live footage of the prolonged attempts
to topple the statue of the Iraqi president. Commentators were united in
saying that the event was history in the making. By contrast, many
state-run TV channels in the Arab world - including Syria, Algeria,
Morocco and Tunisia - did not broadcast it live.
International broadcasters
Radio Sawa, the USA's Arabic-language station, has begun broadcasting 24
hours a day in northern Iraq from FM transmitters in Arbil (100.5 MHz)
and Sulaymaniyah (101.7 MHz), the US Broadcasting Board of Governors
(BBG) announced on 8 April.
Voice of America (VOA) Kurdish and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's
(RFE/RL) Arabic, known as Radio Free Iraq, are also being transmitted on
FM from Arbil, both on 104.5 MHz, for two hours and one hour a day
respectively.
Psy-ops broadcasts
Radio Tikrit, launched in February 2003, continues to broadcast material
critical of Saddam Husayn. The broadcast heard by BBC Monitoring at 1900
gmt on 9 April included a song entitled "Congratulations"; in another
item, a comic pretending to be Saddam Husayn sang a rap song in English
with lyrics including "Everybody in the house say we hate you". The
broadcast also contained repeated appeals to the people of Baghdad to
remain calm and not to loot public buildings such as ministries and
hospitals because such scenes could be viewed around the world on TV.
Another Iraqi opposition radio station, Twin Rivers Radio, on 9 April
broadcast calls to Iraqi soldiers telling them that US-led forces mean
them no harm; their aim, rather, was to liberate them. The station also
broadcast instructions to the Iraqi military telling them how to indicate
that they were not hostile, "otherwise they would face the consequences
of their actions". Twin Rivers Radio, operated by the Iraqi National
Accord, was first heard in February 2002, and is believed to broadcast
from a transmitter in Kuwait.
New media landscape on the horizon
The officials of the shadow Iraqi government gathered in Kuwait are
expected to work under Jay Garner, the retired US general designated head
of non-military operations once the war in Iraq ends. They include Robert
Reilly, a former director of the Voice of America. Reilly is reported to
be working with Iraqi exiles on developing radio broadcasting in the
future Iraq.
The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the
Federation of Arab Journalists are to meet in the Moroccan capital Rabat
on 12 April to discuss how to help the media in Iraq to move forward, the
Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
Developing a free and democratic press after the fall of Saddam Husayn's
regime is high on the priorities of the US and Britain. Journalists'
organizations, as well as international broadcasters, are keen to have
their say also in how the Iraqi media landscape evolves.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 10 Apr 03 [excerpts, via DXLD 3-062)
IRAQ [and non]. MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1630 GMT 11 APR 2003
Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
Colour bars have been observed on the channel's frequencies since 1024
gmt on 9 April.
Republic of Iraq Television
No video or audio from the domestic TV channel has been observed by BBC
Monitoring as of 1200 gmt on 11 April.
No news sources have reported any TV services on the air in Baghdad.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its
usual frequencies in the reporting period.
No news sources have reported any radio services on the air in Baghdad.
Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by
BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March.
Internet -- The web site of the Iraqi News Agency -
http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/ - and other Iraqi sites hosted on
http://www.uruklink.net were inaccessible.
Other broadcasts targeting Iraq
The following stations were heard by BBC Monitoring during the reporting
period:
Radio Tikrit - 1584 kHz.
Voice of the People of Kurdistan, radio of the Jalal Talabani-led
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan; transmitters based in Sulaymaniyah in
northern Iraq; signed off at 1700 gmt; heard on 1206 and 4025 kHz.
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq [sawt tahrir al-iraq]; signed on at 1730
gmt saying "This is the Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, voice of all
sects in Iraq."; heard on 1206 and 4025 kHz.
Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by
Mas'ud Barzani; heard on 4085 kHz. After carrying its Arabic programmes,
including a newscast at 1830 gmt, Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan broadcast
"communiqués issued by the international coalition command on
coordinating activities under the current
circumstances in our Iraqi homeland. These communiqués include
instructions and guidance, which will be beneficial to you, in order to
preserve the lives, property, and future of our people and homeland."
Voice of the Iraqi People, voice of the Iraqi Communist Party; heard on
3900 and 5880 kHz. This radio continues to carry its usual pre-war
anti-Iraqi regime programmes. It was observed at 1835 gmt on 10 April to
carry appeals and instructions to its party members to "extend their
services to the people". One such appeal read as follows: "To comrades of
Jabbar, Sa'dun Dhi Qar, Abu-Ammar al-Diwaniyah, Abu-Tammuz and his
comrades, Al-Hajj Abu-Husayn and the comrades of the truth and comrades
of Martyr Abu-Hind. From Hadi to the comrades of Salam and Mufid. The
Party greets you and calls on you to undertake active moves to implement
its programme and directives. Be with the masses of the people and extend
to them any service and help that lies within your power. Gather the
Party masses and comrades and strengthen your ties with the people." The
radio's commentaries were opposed to "both the war and the dictatorship".
Voice of the Iraqi Republic, Voice of the Iraqi People, which has been
broadcasting against the Iraqi regime since January 1991, was not heard
during the reporting period on its usual frequencies of 4785, 9570 and
11710 kHz. However, the station was heard during the past few days
carrying appeals to Iraqi people and army to rebel against the Iraqi
regime.
Twin Rivers Radio; heard on 1566 kHz. This station, which has broadcast
since February 2002, carried Arabic music and talks against the Iraqi
regime. The station has recently been carrying anti-Saddam Husayn talks
and "instructions and guidance" from the coalition forces.
Al-Mustaqbal (The Future) radio is the voice of the Iraqi National Accord
and has existed since February 1998. It has not been heard in recent
weeks.
(BBCM via DXLD 3-062)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR NOTE 1200 GMT 11 APR - 1200 GMT 12 APR 03
The US military said on 12 April that it was planning to start radio and
TV broadcasts from Baghdad International Airport early next week. "We do
have a ground-based broadcasting team headed up to Baghdad International
Airport... They'll be able to broadcast radio and television, we expect
to be operational on Monday. It's equipment that's going... and a
broadcast team to be able to broadcast from the area," international news
agencies quoted spokesman Captain Frank Thorp as saying at US Central
Command headquarters in Qatar. US military aircraft flying over Iraq have
been broadcasting TV programmes on a frequency previously used by Iraqi
state TV, in addition to the Information Radio broadcasts that began in
December 2002. However, shortages of electricity meant most people in the
country were unable to watch the broadcasts, Reuters reported. The
following are BBC Monitoring's observations for the 24-hour period ending
at 1200 gmt on 12 April:
Iraq Satellite Channel
Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
Colour bars have been observed on the channel's frequencies since 1024
gmt on 9 April.
Republic of Iraq Television
No video or audio from the domestic TV channel has been observed by BBC
Monitoring as of 1200 gmt on 12 April. No news sources have reported any
Iraqi TV services on the air in Baghdad.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its
usual frequencies in the reporting period. No news sources have reported
any Iraqi radio services on the air in Baghdad.
Voice of Youth radio
Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by
BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March.
Information Radio
US-run Information Radio continues to be heard on shortwave 9715 kHz and
mediumwave 756 kHz.
Internet
The web site of the Iraqi News Agency -
http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/ - and other Iraqi sites hosted on
http://www.uruklink.net were inaccessible.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 12 Apr 03 (via DXLD 3-064)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR NOTE 1200 GMT 12 APR - 1200 GMT 13 APR 03
No Iraqi domestic broadcasting has been traced. US Information Radio
continues to be heard. Other sources presumed to be on the air are the
US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom and UK-run Radio Nahrain near
Basrah. There is a report that a US ground-based broadcasting team is
heading for Baghdad International Airport. Spokesman Captain Frank Thorp
told reporters at Central Command headquarters in Qatar that it was
expected to be operational on Monday 14 April. Following are BBC
Monitoring's Iraq-related media observations for the 24-hour period
ending at 1200 gmt on 13 April:
Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
Colour bars have been observed on the channel's satellite frequencies
since 1024 gmt on 9 April.
Republic of Iraq Television -- No video or audio from the main domestic
TV channel has been observed by BBC Monitoring as of 1200 gmt on 12
April. Youth [Shebab] TV has not been reported on the air since shortly
after the start of air attacks on Baghdad. No news sources have reported
any Iraqi TV services on the air in Baghdad.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its
usual frequencies in the reporting period.
No news sources have reported any Iraqi radio services on the air in
Baghdad.
Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by
BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March.
Media targeting Iraq
BBC Monitoring has observed the following official, unofficial,
opposition and broadcasts of unknown location:
No new stations targeting Iraq have been heard since the start of Radio
Nahrain operated by UK forces in southern Iraq near Basrah and US-run
Information Radio. Information Radio continues to be heard on shortwave
4500 and 9715 kHz shortwave and 756 kHz.
Al-Mustaqbal/The Future on 1575 kHz mediumwave has been broadcasting
programmes irregularly. On 12 April it was observed to be carrying
continuous music at 1215 gmt, without announcements, and left the air at
1400 gmt.
Voice of the People of Kurdistan was observed already on the air at 1315
gmt on 4025 kHz shortwave although listed to sign-on at 1345. A
transmission was also observed commencing at 0200 gmt. The station
appears to have made an adjustment to local summer time.
Republic of Iraq Radio, Voice of the People was observed at 1510 gmt on
1053 kHz mediumwave and 9563, 9570 and 11710 kHz shortwave.
Radio of the Land of the Two Rivers was observed on 1566 kHz mediumwave
between 1457 and 1530 gmt, with possible technical interruptions.
Mesopotamia Radio and Television from Irbil was heard signing on at 1700
gmt on 7560 kHz shortwave.
Radio Freedom (Radio Azadi), Voice of the Communist Party of Iraqi
Kurdistan was heard at 1635 gmt on 3900 kHz shortwave.
Voice of Rebellious Iraq was observed opening on 675 kHz mediumwave at
1500 gmt and has recently continued past this time. (The same frequency
is used by a new Iranian station called Radio Nejat at 1230-1430 gmt.)
Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan was observed in progress on 4085 kHz shortwave
at 1625 gmt.
Voice of Kurdistan Toilers was observed in progress at 1605 gmt on
4245 kHz shortwave.
Voice of the Iraqi People was observed opening at 1730 gmt on 3900 and
5883 kHz.
Internet
The site of the Iraqi News Agency - http://www.uruklink.net/iraqnews/ -
and other Iraqi sites hosted on http://www.uruklink.net were
inaccessible.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 13 Apr 03 (via DXLD 3-064)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1630 GMT 13 APR 03 [excerpts]
No Iraqi domestic broadcasting has been traced. US Information Radio
continues to be heard. Other sources presumed to be on the air are the
US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom and UK-run Radio Nahrain near
Basrah. There is a report that a US ground-based broadcasting team is
heading for Baghdad International Airport. Spokesman Captain Frank Thorp
told reporters at Central Command headquarters in Qatar that it was
expected to be operational on Monday 14 April. Following are BBC
Monitoring's Iraq-related media observations for the 24-hour period
ending at 1200 gmt on 13 April:
Media targeting Iraq
BBC Monitoring has observed the following official, unofficial,
opposition and broadcasts of unknown location:
No new stations targeting Iraq have been heard since the start of Radio
Nahrain operated by UK forces in southern Iraq near Basrah and US-run
Information Radio. Information Radio continues to be heard on shortwave
4500 and 9715 kHz shortwave and 756 kHz.
Al-Mustaqbal/The Future on 1575 kHz mediumwave has been broadcasting
programmes irregularly. On 12 April it was observed to be carrying
continuous music at 1215 gmt, without announcements, and left the air at
1400 gmt.
Voice of the People of Kurdistan was observed already on the air at 1315
gmt on 4025 kHz shortwave although listed to sign-on at 1345. A
transmission was also observed commencing at 0200 gmt. The station
appears to have made an adjustment to local summer time.
Republic of Iraq Radio, Voice of the People was observed at 1510 gmt on
1053 kHz mediumwave and 9563, 9570 and 11710 kHz shortwave.
Radio of the Land of the Two Rivers was observed on 1566 kHz mediumwave
between 1457 and 1530 gmt, with possible technical interruptions.
Mesopotamia Radio and Television from Irbil was heard signing on at 1700
gmt on 7560 kHz shortwave.
Radio Freedom (Radio Azadi), Voice of the Communist Party of Iraqi
Kurdistan was heard at 1635 gmt on 3900 kHz shortwave.
Voice of Rebellious Iraq was observed opening on 675 kHz mediumwave at
1500 gmt and has recently continued past this time. (The same frequency
is used by a new Iranian station called Radio Nejat from 1230-1430 gmt.)
Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan was observed in progress on 4085 kHz shortwave
at 1625 gmt.
Voice of Kurdistan Toilers was observed in progress at 1605 gmt on 4245
kHz shortwave.
Voice of the Iraqi People was observed opening at 1730 gmt on 3900 and
5883 kHz.
FUTURE MEDIA DEVELOPMENTS
Glenn Hauser's DX LISTENING DIGEST newsletter reported on 11 April that
Danish based International Media Support, which organised domestic
broadcasting in Kosovo and Afghanistan after the wars, is summoning a
conference in London on how to establish domestic broadcasting in Iraq
after the present war. Existing Iraqi and Kurdish opposition broadcasters
will also be invited. The item was first broadcast on Danish radio on 6
April. Source: DX Listening Digest, 11 Apr 03
Source: BBC Monitoring research 13 Apr 03 (via DXLD 3-064)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1630 GMT 14 APR 03
No Iraqi domestic broadcasting has been traced by BBC Monitoring. US
Information Radio continues to be heard. Other sources presumed to be on
the air are the US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom, and UK-run
Radio Nahrain near Basra. The following is a round-up of BBC Monitoring's
media observations on Iraq and related reports as of 1630 gmt on 14
April:
Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
Colour bars have been observed on the channel's satellite frequencies
since 1024 gmt on 9 April.
Republic of Iraq Television: No video or audio from the main domestic TV
channel has been observed by BBC Monitoring. Youth [Shebab] TV has not
been reported on the air since shortly after the start of air attacks on
Baghdad. No news sources have reported any Iraqi TV services on the air
in Baghdad.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its
usual frequencies in the reporting period. No news sources have reported
any Iraqi radio services on the air in Baghdad.
Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by
BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March.
OTHER BROADCASTS TARGETING IRAQ
US-run Information Radio has been heard at various times during the
reporting period on 756, 4500 and 9715 kHz.
The Future (Al-Mustaqbal)
On 14 April continuous Western music with no announcements was heard on
1575 kHz, a frequency usually used by Al-Mustaqbal/The Future, a radio
station that broadcasts on behalf of the Iraqi National Accord. The
station has been observed by BBC Monitoring to be broadcasting programmes
irregularly.
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq was heard on 13 April on 1206 kHz
(audible from 1400-1800 gmt) and 4025 kHz (audible from 1000-1800 gmt).
According to reports which BBC Monitoring cannot confirm, the Voice of
the Liberation of Iraq is operated jointly by various Iraqi opposition
groups in Sulaymaniyah. The station has not announced any contact
information or given any direct indication of its political affiliation.
US-UK run Towards Freedom TV
The California newspaper San José Mercury News on 11 April quoted Daniel
Rifkind, news editor of the London-based World Television company hired
by the British government to produce an hour-long news programme, as
saying: "It's not about war! Don't mention the war!... The programme is
about freedom, OK?... We're about information, but it has to be something
people want to watch."
The San José Mercury News noted that editorial control is not totally in
World Television's hands "because the British Foreign Office, which is
paying the company for 30 one-hour instalments, ultimately can decide
content".
"In the United States, content disagreements are unlikely. The Pentagon
is producing the segment," the newspaper reported, adding: "And the
ultimate goal of Towards Freedom TV is not to flourish but to fade away.
What the governments want, said Rifkind, `is for Iraqi TV to go back on
the air - run by Iraqis.'"
(BBCM Apr 14, 2003 via DXLD 3-066)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1600 GMT 15 APR 03
Journalists and technicians from Iraqi TV and radio met in Baghdad on
Tuesday 15 April with a US military representative, and discussed what
they needed to resume broadcasts. An Iraqi opposition figure who has
reportedly been appointed as the new mayor of Baghdad said that Iraqi
radio transmissions were due to resume on the 15th, with Iraqi TV
broadcasts starting up again "soon". However, Arabsat has been reported
as saying it will not resume Iraq Satellite Channel transmissions without
Arab League authorization.
No Iraqi domestic broadcasting had been traced by BBC Monitoring at the
time of publication of this round-up. But in an indication that some
radio broadcasts are being heard inside Iraq, international news agencies
reported from Baghdad on 14 April that several hundred policemen had
gathered at the Iraqi police academy in the capital in response to a call
by an Arabic-language radio station to prepare for joint patrols with US
forces against looters.
An electricity board representative cited by the Associated Press on 14
April said "he expected power to be restored to east Baghdad in three to
four days, and to west Baghdad within a week".
US Information Radio continues to be heard. Other sources presumed to be
on the air are the US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom, and UK-run
Radio Nahrain near Basra.
The following is a round-up of BBC Monitoring's media observations on
Iraq and related reports as of 1630 gmt on 15 April:
Iraqi journalists in talks with US on resuming broadcasts
Some journalists in Iraq are counting on US help to revive broadcasting
infrastructure devastated by the war, the French news agency AFP reported
on 15 April.
Some 30 journalists and technicians from Iraqi TV and radio had a meeting
at the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 15 April with Lt-Col John O'Brien
from the US operations centre. The journalists were asked to draw up
lists of equipment they still had and what they needed to resume
broadcasts.
"The occupation forces issued an appeal to the television journalists and
technicians to meet them and I think they (the Americans) are thinking
about starting new stations and recruiting Iraqis to work for them," AFP
quoted Iraqi satellite TV journalist Abd al-Khaliq Flayh as saying.
"You have to understand that this is a phased operation, first military
and then reconstruction according to priorities... We, for instance, need
to get the electricity going so that people can see and hear what you
guys are going to broadcast," O'Brien said, according to AFP.
Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
Colour bars have been observed on the channel's satellite frequencies
since 1024 gmt on 9 April. Arabsat has been reported as saying it will
not resume Iraqi TV transmission without Arab League authorization (see
report below)
Republic of Iraq Television -- No video or audio from the main domestic
TV channel has been observed by BBC Monitoring. Youth [Shebab] TV has not
been reported on the air since shortly after the start of air attacks on
Baghdad. No news sources have reported any Iraqi TV services on the air
in Baghdad.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its
usual frequencies in the reporting period. No news sources have reported
any Iraqi radio services on the air in Baghdad.
Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by
BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March.
OTHER BROADCASTS TARGETING IRAQ
Information Radio continues to be heard on shortwave 4500 and 9715 kHz
shortwave and 756 kHz.
Al-Mustaqbal/The Future has been heard on 1575 kHz mediumwave carrying
continuous Western-style music, without announcements.
Voice of the People of Kurdistan was observed from 1945-2130 gmt on 14
April on 1206 and 4025 kHz. A transmission was also observed commencing
at 0200 gmt on 15 April. The station appears to have made an adjustment
to local summer time.
Republic of Iraq Radio, Voice of the Iraqi People was observed from
1800-0300 gmt on 4785, 9570 and 11710 kHz shortwave.
Radio of the Land of the Two Rivers was observed on 1566 kHz mediumwave
from 1300-1900 gmt on 14 April and again from 0300 gmt on 15 April.
Voice of the Iraqi People (Iraqi Communist Party) was observed from
1600-2000 gmt on 3900 kHz; from 0000-0600 gmt on 15 April it was also
heard on 5883 kHz.
Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan was observed on 4090 kHz shortwave from
1600-2000 gmt on 14 April and from 0315 gmt on 15 April.
Voice of Rebellious Iraq was observed on 14 April on 1404 kHz and later
on the 14th from 1900-2100 gmt on 711 kHz.
Voice of Kurdistan Toilers was observed from 0200-0400 gmt on 15 April on
4245 kHz shortwave.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 Apr 03 (excerpts, via DXLD 3-066)
THE MEDIA ENVIRONMENT IN IRAQ
By Kathleen Ridolfo
With the collapse of the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein,
issues of postconflict reorganization assume a new immediacy,
particularly in the face of widespread calls for a speedy transition to
native Iraqi administration. One aspect of the country's infrastructure
that will need considerable attention is its media system, which
initially must serve to disseminate information about security and
policing issues and the distribution of aid, but which will soon be
called upon to facilitate the transition to a transparent and democratic
political system. Ideally, "free and fair" media will relatively soon be
called upon to play a leading role in "free and fair" elections in a
country rife with ethnic and religious divisions.
Like virtually all other aspects of the Iraqi state and society, the
media were completely incorporated into Hussein's totalitarian structure,
a reality that was symbolically represented by the fact that Hussein gave
his eldest son, Uday Hussein, responsibility for it.
Under the Hussein regime, there were two official state television
channels, Iraqi Television 1 and 2. These were indubitably the main
sources of news and information -- all prepared by the state-controlled
Iraqi News Agency -- for the Iraqi population. In addition, Uday Hussein
ran a third channel, Youth TV, which offered situation comedies, films,
and music. In a controversial move that was criticized by Western media
groups, forces of the U.S.-led coalition against Hussein's regime
targeted Iraqi television beginning on 24 March in an effort to knock it
off the air, an effort that was largely successful despite intermittent
Iraqi efforts to broadcast from mobile transmitters.
State-run Iraq Satellite Television was produced exclusively for
consumption abroad and is generally not available domestically, although
there have been some reports that some Iraqis are able to view it.
Satellite dishes were illegal in Iraq for many years, but in 1999 the
government announced that it will allow some access to satellite
broadcasts through a state-controlled subscription mechanism. However, it
took three years to turn that announcement into reality. Last June, "Alif
Ba" reported that 14 Arab and other foreign channels would be offered via
satellite to Iraqis for 110,000 dinars ($60) per year. In addition,
however, subscribers would have to buy decoders for about $150 each, a
considerable sum considering the average Iraqi income is estimated at
about $600 a year.
Al-Jazeera reported that the government's package of satellite channels
is "confined to artistic, sports, cultural, musical, and adventure
channels." Undoubtedly, the purpose of such restrictions was to limit and
control the perceptions of average Iraqis about the outside world, and
the longer-term consequences of these limitations will make themselves
felt as post-Hussein Iraq opens up.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq Satellite Television carried a range
of broadcasts from government-spun updates on the fighting to summaries
of headlines and editorials from the state-controlled domestic press. It
focused strongly on official statements, reports of meetings held by
Saddam Hussein, and announcements of awards offered by the regime to
those willing to fight against coalition forces. It also carried footage
of international antiwar protests, played patriotic songs and video
clips, and featured poetry exalting Hussein's virtues. As late as 6
April, it continued broadcasting and as of 10 April there were still
indications that it could resume in some limited capacity.
According to U.S. government estimates, in 1998 there were 19 AM stations
in Iraq (of which five were inactive), 51 FM stations, and four shortwave
stations. However, it is important to note that many Iraqi stations have
operated only intermittently or have ceased broadcasting altogether since
the 1991 Gulf War. In mid-October, there were reports of Iraqi plans to
maintain state-radio broadcasts in the event of war by using mobile
transmitters. In fact, Iraq Radio has continued to operate throughout the
conflict, but according to reports from inside Iraq, its signal has been
weak and sporadic. In terms of content and style, Iraq Radio follows the
same pattern as Iraqi state television. It has broadcast official
pronouncements on the fighting, mixed with Iraqi government statements
and pro-Iraqi pronouncements by foreign leaders. It has also doled out
generous helpings of patriotic music and other inspirational material.
RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) was established in 1998 in an effort to
bring independent and balanced information to the Iraqi people. With
correspondents embedded with coalition forces, and based in northern
Iraq, Kuwait, and neighboring Arab states, as well as London and
Washington, RFI provides a wide range of coverage that simply cannot be
compared with the fare of Iraqi state media. Its coverage includes
summaries from the Iraqi, Arab, and Western press; international news;
interviews with opposition figures and political and military analysts;
economic reports; and reports on human rights issues.
There are five major Arabic-language dailies in Iraq and nine major
weeklies, all of which are under state control and several of which are
run directly by Uday Hussein. Economic sanctions have resulted in
newsprint shortages, leading to print-run limitations since 1993.
However, in February 2002, Uday's daily "Babil" doubled its format from
12 pages to 24. Reports on the status of the Iraqi press since the
beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom have been limited, but there are
indications that papers have continued to appear, and Iraq Satellite
Television has regularly reported on news and opinion pieces appearing in
Iraqi dailies. The state has also maintained a total monopoly on printing
facilities and the press-distribution mechanism.
Internet access in Iraq, which was only launched in 1997, was severely
restricted by the Hussein regime. In 2001, the U.S. government estimated
that there were just 12,500 Internet users in Iraq, which has a
population of more than 26 million. Internet services in Iraq are
provided by a telecommunications network in Syria and there are frequent
interruptions. In November, for instance, service was cut off for about
10 days due to "a halt in the service of the supplying satellite,"
according to one report.
The country has one, state-controlled Internet service provider and two
portals. The Iraqi State Company for Internet Services
(http://www.uruklink.net) hosts all Iraqi government sites and those of
all the country's dailies except "Babil," which is hosted by the Iraqi
National Olympic Committee (http://www.iraq2000.com). That site also
hosts the sites of the Iraqi Journalists Union, the National Union of
Iraqi Students, and the General Union of Iraqi Youth. Both portals have
been inaccessible since the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Private Internet access is forbidden, and modems are banned. In 2002, the
Iraqi State Company for Internet Services announced a plan to open
Internet cafes in Baghdad, but it is not known if it actually did so. As
of the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, there were an estimated 50-70
Internet centers in Iraq, located in places such as luxury hotels,
universities, state ministries, and research and industrial facilities.
A 26 January 2002 article in "Al-Ittihad," reported that the State
Company for Internet Services was offering Internet browsing for 1,000
dinars per hour ($0.50, according to black-market rates), and e-mail for
250 dinars per message sent and received. Again, to the average Iraqi
citizen, this is costly, and there is no
information about how popular these services are. Internet subscriptions
are reportedly only granted to corporations at an annual rate of between
1 million-6 million dinars ($500-$3,000).
"Alif Ba" ran a feature article in May 2002 on e-mail availability in
Iraq that quoted an annual subscription fee of 100,000 dinars ($50) or a
daily rate of 250 dinars. In addition to the fee, applicants were
required to "produce a photocopy of [their] personal-status identity card
and their residency card, [and] the subscriber must specify his user name
and choose a password so that his messages remain confidential," "Alif
Ba" reported. The article noted that 5,000 Iraqis had signed up for
e-mail access. Contrary to Iraqi reports, other sources estimate that
e-mail subscriptions run about $80 per year.
Providing information to the Iraqi public that is not filtered through
the Hussein regime has been an important aspect of Operation Iraqi
Freedom since even before the beginning of military operations. U.S.
Brigadier General Vincent Brooks, deputy director of operations at U.S.
Central Command (CENTCOM), told reporters during a 1 April briefing that
the United States has been conducting radio broadcasts into Iraq 24 hours
a day since around 17 February via five frequencies. The United States is
also operating one television station. In addition, Brooks noted, British
forces have recently launched radio broadcasts in southern Iraq. "Recent
captures of enemy prisoners of war say that the broadcasts are readily
accessible and they are also very popular," Brooks said.
In addition to the radio and television broadcasts, CENTCOM is continuing
its leaflet campaign, adjusting messages to the Iraqi people as
warranted, Brooks said. Asked why the broadcasts have not led to
high-ranking military defections, Brooks replied on 1 April: "The regime
is still present in many areas, and it is the regime and the brutality of
the regime keeps many people from taking the steps that they would like
to take. This is a very high-risk proposition for military leaders who
would decide they're not going to fight for the regime, or civilians that
would rise up against the regime."
British military spokesman Colonel Chris Vernon explained the British
broadcasts to a press briefing in Kuwait City on 3 April. "We are running
radio stations, which are transmitting into Basra," Vernon said,
according to an RFE/RL report. "It's a mixture -- its all in Arabic, of
course. There's a mixture of Arabic and, indeed, Western music, with the
broad message that our argument is not with you, the people of Basra, it
is with the regime and, particularly, the Ba'ath Party officials in Basra
who support that and the militia whom they are controlling, the
irregulars."
At the Pentagon on 5 April, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Public Affairs Victoria Clarke told reporters: "The communications and
what people in Iraq can see and not see or hear and not hear is up and
down. Sometimes it's on. Sometimes it's off." Clarke added that she was
unsure of what Iraqis were actually seeing on Iraqi television. U.S. Army
Major General Stanley McChrystal -- vice director for operations, J-3,
Joint Staff -- told reporters at the same briefing that the Iraqi regime
has a "very redundant system" in place, "starting with fixed sites, [and
including] mobile vans that it uses to put out its signal." McChrystal
added that coalition forces have degraded the regime's ability to
communicate, adding, "We believe that it is sporadic, at best."
Meanwhile, Major General Victor Renuart told reporters at CENTCOM on 5
April that it appeared that Iraq Television -- by which he presumably
meant Iraq Satellite Television -- had purchased broadcast time from a
number of satellite companies. Renuart added that coalition forces were
broadcasting to the Iraqi people on Iraq's Channel 3 television. He added
that the coalition was working to assist liberated Iraqis in broadcasting
over satellite television. "We're beginning to see many more leaders in
the communities of Basra and Nasiriyah, Samawa, Najaf, even now toward
Karbala, become much more supportive, openly supportive of the coalition
forces as they see the threat from these other irregular troops go away,"
Renuart said. "And some have expressed interest in helping to get that
message out.... And so we're sensitive to try to create the opportunity
for Iraqis [to] broadcast on their network."
U.S. Brigadier General Brooks told reporters at CENTCOM on 6 April that
CENTCOM is broadcasting "nonstop" over the radio. Messages include
instructions for approaching coalition checkpoints and warnings to the
Special Republican Guard and special security forces to "surrender, flee,
or fight and face certain destruction." The broadcasts also advised
Iraqis to avoid dangerous areas such as Baghdad International Airport.
"We do know that radio is the most common and popular medium that is used
by the Iraqi population," Brooks said. Kathleen Ridolfo is the editor of
"RFE/RL Iraq Report."
(RFE-RL Media Matters 3-14, Apr 14, 2003)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1600 GMT 16 APR 03
The US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom is being received in
Baghdad, although with power cut in most of the capital, only those with
generators are able to tune in, Reuters news agency has confirmed. US
Information Radio continues to be heard by BBC Monitoring. Another source
presumed to be on the air is UK-run Radio Nahrain near Basra. However,
despite reports that Iraqi domestic radio transmissions were due to
resume on 15 April, no such broadcasts had been observed by BBC
Monitoring at the time of publication of this round-up. News agencies
reporting from Iraq have not reported that Iraqi radio or TV stations are
actually back on the air. The following is a round-up of BBC Monitoring's
media observations on Iraq and related reports as of 1630 gmt on 16
April:
IRAQIS GET THE MESSAGE FROM US-UK TV STATION - REUTERS REPORT
BBC Monitoring has noted what it believes is the first report from a
major international news agency that US-UK broadcasts from the new TV
station Towards Freedom are being watched by Iraqis in Baghdad. In a
dispatch from the Iraqi capital datelined 15 April, Reuters news agency
said the new channel had been on the air "for at least two hours" that
evening. The broadcast included statements by George W. Bush and Tony
Blair, who promised that their troops would leave Iraq as soon as a new
government was in place.
Reuters recalled that the new channel had been officially launched on
Thursday 10 April. "But with power cut in most of Baghdad, only those
with generators are able to tune in - and, initially, viewer figures were
hard to come by," the agency said.
The report added: "`We saw it but it was not very clear,' said Kamal, 70,
who did not give his second name. `There was news and statements. They
said: Don't go out with weapons. That kind of thing.' But locals said the
signal was very weak and they still depended for news on international
radio stations like the BBC's Arabic service, US-broadcast Radio Sawa and
Radio Monte Carlo."
The new Arabic network is being broadcast by US Commando Solo aircraft on
frequencies formerly used by state-run Iraqi domestic TV.
US-run Information Radio
US-run Information Radio continued to be heard on shortwave 4500 and 9715
kHz shortwave and 756 kHz.
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq was heard at 1730-1930 gmt as scheduled,
on 1206 and 4025 kHz.
According to reports which BBC Monitoring cannot confirm, the Voice of
the Liberation of Iraq is operated jointly by various Iraqi opposition
groups in Sulaymaniyah. The station has not announced any contact
information or given any direct indication of its political affiliation.
(BBCM Apr 16, 2003 via DXLD 3-067)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1600 GMT 17 APR 03
A US newspaper has reported that the USA is sponsoring a new AM radio
station in Iraq called the "Voice of the New Iraq". The new radio station
marked the birth of the "Iraq Media Network", which would eventually
include newspapers and TV stations run by returning Iraqi exiles, the
report added.
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, a station believed to have hitherto been
operated jointly by various Iraqi opposition groups in Sulaymaniyah, has
been monitored on a mediumwave frequency formerly used by Republic of
Iraq Radio's Kurdish service, and is also reported to be broadcasting on
FM in Baghdad and Kirkuk.
The US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom and the UK-run Radio
Nahrain near Basra are also presumed to be on the air. US Information
Radio continues to be heard by BBC Monitoring.
In a dispatch from Baghdad at 1440 gmt on 17 April, Reuters news agency
noted: "The sense of disorder is exacerbated by the breakdown in
communications. Telephones don't work and the only local television on
air is broadcast by US and British forces. It promises freedom but few
details about what that means."
The following is a round-up of BBC Monitoring's media observations on
Iraq and related reports for the 24-hour period up to 1600 gmt on 17
April:
New broadcasts reported inside Iraq
The US newspaper Wall Street Journal on 16 April reported that the USA
was sponsoring a new radio station in Iraq called the "Voice of the New
Iraq", featuring a mix of pop music and promotional ads. The new radio
station marked the birth of the "Iraq Media Network", which would
eventually include newspapers and TV stations run by returning Iraqi
exiles, the report added.
The Wall Street Journal report stated: "Beamed nationwide from a new
20-kilowatt transmitter in the port city of Umm Qasr, the US-sponsored
"Voice of the New Iraq" went on air for the first time Tuesday [15 April]
with a mix of pop music and promotional ads... The new radio station at
Umm Qasr marks the birth of the US taxpayer-funded Iraq Media Network,
which US officials say will soon include a nationwide TV channel and an
independent newspaper, all run by previously exiled Iraqis along with
journalists recruited from within the country...
"IMN, as it is already known, is the handiwork of the Indigenous Media
Project, an offshoot of the Pentagon's Office of Reconstruction and
Humanitarian Assistance, run by retired Lt-Gen Jay Garner... The
network's technicians have deployed to the Baghdad International Airport
to set up mobile TV transmission gear... Project director Robert Reilly
used to run Voice of America, but has been in Kuwait for weeks to set up
the network... An IMN newspaper and TV station could be months away..."
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq was monitored in Arbil on 17 April from
1000-1700 local time [0700-1400 gmt] on 657 kHz mediumwave (a frequency
formerly used by Republic of Iraq Radio's Kurdish service).
According to reports which BBC Monitoring cannot confirm, the Voice of
the Liberation of Iraq has hitherto been operated jointly by various
Iraqi opposition groups in Sulaymaniyah. The station has not in the past
announced any contact information or given any direct indication of its
political affiliation.
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq was also reported on 17 April to be
broadcasting on 88.8 MHz FM for Baghdad, and 89.5 MHz FM for Kirkuk. BBC
Monitoring has so far not been able to confirm these FM broadcasts.
At a US Central Command Operation Iraqi Freedom briefing in Qatar on 16
April, Brig-Gen Vincent Brooks announced, among other things: "...At this
point, all coalition land units are conducting humanitarian assistance
assessments throughout their areas. Coalition forces report that looting
has dramatically reduced throughout the area of operations, and normal
activities are starting to occur.
"Loudspeaker teams and radio broadcasts are helping to discourage
looting, as well as to reduce the tolerance of looters. Distribution of
leaflets and handbills like the one that's shown here, focused on
discouraging looting, are also having a favourable effect at this point.
Emerging leaders have also joined in the call for looting to cease....
"We continue to communicate with the Iraqi people through a number of
different media. Our radio broadcasts are reaching all of Iraq.
Television broadcasts are ongoing from airborne broadcast systems, and
we'll soon broadcast from ground stations. More Iraqis will have access
to these programmes as power is restored.
"Leaflets, like these that are currently shown, are being distributed to
inform the Iraqis that the former regime is gone, and that Iraq is now on
a path to the future that they will choose..."
US-run Information Radio
During the reporting period US-run Information Radio has continued to be
heard at various times on shortwave 4500 and 9715 kHz shortwave and 756
kHz.
FORMER IRAQI SERVICES
Iraq Satellite Channel has not been observed since 1618 gmt on 7 April.
Colour bars have been observed on the channel's satellite frequencies
since 1024 gmt on 9 April. Arabsat has been reported as saying it will
not resume Iraqi TV transmission without Arab League authorization.
Republic of Iraq Television: No video or audio from the main domestic TV
channel has been observed by BBC Monitoring. Youth [Shebab] TV has not
been reported on the air since shortly after the start of air attacks on
Baghdad. No news sources have reported any Iraqi TV services on the air
in Baghdad.
Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was untraced by BBC Monitoring on its
usual frequencies in the reporting period. No news sources have reported
any Iraqi radio services on the air in Baghdad.
Voice of Youth radio, operated by Uday Saddam Husayn, was last heard by
BBC Monitoring at 0430 gmt on 25 March.
BROADCASTS TARGETING IRAQ
Voice of the Iraqi People picture bulletin 2359-0059 15 April 03 The
Voice of the Iraqi Republic, the Voice of the Iraqi People has been
broadcasting against the Iraqi regime since January 1991. The radio
station had been heard before the fall of Saddam Husayn carrying appeals
to the Iraqi people and army to rebel against the
his regime.
[Broadcast monitored in progress] "News Follow-up": Translation of a
statement made by an identified official, speaking in English in the
background, on the situation in the aftermath of Saddam's fall with
superimposed Arabic translation.
Music
"News Round-up": Report on Colin Powell's latest news conference on the
developments inside Iraq in the wake of the Nasiriyah meeting which was
attended by Saddam's former opponents.
Report on the resistance of Iraqis in one of Baghdad's neighbourhood,
Al-Adhamiyyah, and why the residents, mostly Sunnis, felt they should put
up a fight against US troops, quoting a number of residents on why they
felt fighting was worth it. The talk emphasized that although people want
to get rid of Saddam, they did not want US occupation as a replacement.
Music.
An anti-Saddam talk on the inevitability of the fall of his regime -
People felt it was his fight and not theirs. Putting squarely the blame
on Saddam who should have seen the writing on the wall and left Iraq
before the invasion took place.
Music.
News in the vernacular:
- Baghdadis had arrested Arab fighters and turned them over to the
Americans. These fighters should have never supported a corrupt regime.
- Iranian spokesman says Iraqi Ba'thist officials will be arrested and
tried if they try to enter Iran.
- Talk criticizing countries, not named, which might give safe haven to
Saddam and his cronies.
- Al-Nasiriyah meeting has ended with Jay Garner stressing the need for
Iraqis to govern themselves.
- Iraqis must be allowed to choose their own representatives, USA should
not try to impose its men on the country.
Music
Latest news
- AFP says 10 people died in Mosul yesterday when US troops opened fire
on protesters.
- Armed clashes took places between Arabs and Kurdish gangs who went to
the city to steal.
- US special forces stormed underground hideout in Baghdad; They were
looking for Saddam's Fidayeen.
- US says three US soldiers have died in central Iraq, two in Baghdad in
a grenade attack.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 17 Apr 03 (via DXLD 3-067)
MEDIA BEHAVIOUR ROUND-UP 1600 GMT 18 APR 03 [excerpts]
A radio station in Arabic identifying itself as the Iraq Media Network
has been observed by BBC Monitoring on 1170 kHz, a frequency not
previously used by Republic of Iraq Radio. Other announcements included
one for "The Voice of New Iraq". The US newspaper Wall Street Journal had
reported on 16 April that the USA was sponsoring a new AM radio station
in Iraq called the Voice of the New Iraq. The new station marked the
birth of the Iraq Media Network, which would eventually include
newspapers and TV stations run by returning Iraqi exiles, the report
added.
A station in Arabic identifying itself as Radio Voice of the Mujahidin
was monitored on 720 kHz on 17 April. The station's programming suggests
it is affiliated with the Tehran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI. The frequency 720 kHz is one of several used
by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting for external broadcasts.
The US/UK airborne TV service Towards Freedom and the UK-run Radio
Nahrain near Basra are also on the air. On 16 April, US forces started
broadcasting Towards Freedom TV programmes from Baghdad airport (in
addition to the existing airborne transmissions lasting five hours a day
from US Commando Solo aircraft flying over Iraq), Reuters news agency
reported. US Information Radio continues to be heard by BBC Monitoring.
Abu Dhabi TV on 18 April broadcast what it said was footage of Saddam
Husayn being greeted by crowds in Baghdad's Al-Azamiyah district on 9
April, the day the capital fell to US forces, as well as his "last
speech" it said had not previously been broadcast.
The following is a round-up of BBC Monitoring's media observations on
Iraq and related reports for the 24-hour period up to 1600 gmt on 18
April:
NEW BROADCASTS TARGETING IRAQ
Iraq Media Network
A radio station broadcasting in Arabic was observed by BBC Monitoring on
1170 kHz from tune-in at 1640 gmt on 17 April. Programme content was
mostly music with occasional announcements, typically translating as "You
are still listening to the Iraq Media Network, on 1170 kHz mediumwave".
Other announcements included one for "The Voice of New Iraq".
The US newspaper Wall Street Journal reported on 16 April that the USA
was sponsoring a new AM radio station in Iraq called the Voice of the New
Iraq. The new station marked the birth of the Iraq Media Network, which
would eventually include newspapers and TV stations run by returning
Iraqi exiles, the report added.
OTHER BROADCASTS TARGETING IRAQ
Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, a station believed to have hitherto been
operated jointly by various Iraqi opposition groups in Sulaymaniyah, was
monitored from 0400-1100 gmt on 18 April on the mediumwave frequency of
657 kHz, formerly used by Republic of Iraq Radio's Kurdish service.
Unidentified Kurdish programming observed on the same frequency of 657
kHz at 1830 gmt on 17 April.
Al-Mustaqbal (The Future), the radio of the Iraqi National Accord, was
observed at 1100 gmt on 17 April on 1575 kHz kHz, carrying its usual
programming, rather than continuous music. The broadcast finished at 1400
gmt.
SCIRI / Voice of Rebellious Iraq -- This station, broadcasting in Arabic,
identified from tune-in at 2045 gmt on 17 April on 711 kHz.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 18 Apr 03 (via DXLD 3-069)
--- Iraqi Radio
IRAQI RADIO REPORTEDLY TO START TRANSMISSION 15 APRIL
Iraqi radio is due to start transmission on 15 April and Iraqi TV "soon",
Abu Dhabi TV reported on 15 April. Abu Dhabi TV correspondent in Baghdad
Amr al-Muniri said meetings were held at the Palestine-Le Meridien Hotel
in Baghdad between US officials and employees from the Iraqi media on
ways to resume the Iraqi radio and television newscasts. "They had a
meeting with the coalition troops to start radio and television
broadcasts. The engineers and technicians completed the operation of
Baghdad radio, which will start its transmission today, and will direct
appeals to the Iraqi people. As for the television, we have contacted the
television employees and technicians and they said they are ready to
resume transmission soon," he said
Source: Abu Dhabi TV, in Arabic 1120 gmt 15 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD
3-066)
NEW BAGHDAD MAYOR SAYS IRAQI RADIO BROADCASTS TO RESUME 15 APRIL
Abu Dhabi TV at 1120 gmt on 15 April carried a live dispatch from its
correspondent in Baghdad, Amr al-Muniri. In his dispatch, Al-Muniri said
meetings were currently taking place at the Palestine-Le Meridien Hotel
in Baghdad between US officials and employees from the Iraqi media to
discuss ways to resume Iraqi radio and TV newscasts. Al-Muniri then
interviewed Muhammad Mushin al-Zubaydi, an Iraqi opposition figure who
had been elected that day by representatives of Iraqi tribes as the new
mayor of Baghdad.
Asked about the meeting between US officials and Iraqi media employees,
Al-Zubaydi stated: "They had a meeting with the coalition troops to start
radio and TV broadcasts. The engineers and technicians completed the
operation of Baghdad radio, which will start its transmissions today, and
will direct appeals to the Iraqi people. As for the television, we have
contacted the television employees and technicians and they said they are
ready to resume transmission soon."
Al-Zubaydi said the meeting on 15 April was held at the request of tribal
leaders, clergymen and community leaders with the aim of "taking
effective and practical measures to set a mechanism for restoring normal
life to Baghdad".
Asked about coordination with US troops over the meeting, Al-Zubaydi
said: "There is an understanding and cooperation between us, but they do
not have anything to do with today's meeting."
Source: Abu Dhabi TV, in Arabic 1120 gmt 15 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD
3-066)
I was pleased to read about today's meeting between the US military
authority in Baghdad and about 30 former employees of the state radio and
TV. The military have wisely recognised that Iraqis are the best people
to run their country's media. Some cynics will say that nobody who worked
for the official media under Saddam should be given jobs. I disagree.
Broadcasters are employees. They do not have to like their employer, or
even agree with him. Many operated under duress, and only fear for their
own safety and that of their families prevented them from openly defying
the regime.
I am sick to the teeth with people who have never lived in anything other
than a democracy making patronising comments about the people of Iraq.
They're not stupid, they knew what was going on. The broadcasters
pretended to be telling the truth and the people pretended to believe
them. It was the only way to survive under a brutal regime. That has gone
now, and everyone deserves a fresh start, including young people who want
to become good journalists and up to now haven't been given the chance.
I'm not referring to senior management, of course - they were part of the
regime.
I hope the time will soon come when we will be able to welcome young
Iraqi broadcasters to our training centre in Hilversum. At the moment we
have with us a wonderful bunch of young people from numerous countries in
Africa and Asia who bring enthusiasm, vitality and a fresh perspective
that enriches us all
(A.Sennitt-HOL RN blog Apr 15 via DXLD 3-066)
Radio Baghdad back on Thursday?
A report in Thursday's Sydney Morning Herald quotes the new US-backed
mayor of Baghdad as saying broadcasts by Radio Baghdad were to resume
'this evening', which would permit the population to be informed of the
new leadership and "give legitimacy" to the new administration. On
Tuesday the same gentleman said that broadcasts would resume later that
day, but he's new to the job so might have got a bit mixed up :-) I'll be
glad when they do get back and we know the frequencies. A man can only
take so much of monitoring unmodulated carriers. After a while you start
hallucinating and imagine you can hear Arabic voices, only to discover
when taking the headphones off that it was a couple of people chatting in
the corridor
(A.Sennitt-HOL Apr 16, 2003 in RN blog via DXLD 3-067)
IRAQI TV, RADIO BROADCASTS TO BE RESUMED SOON |
Text of report by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper Khabat
on 18 April
Informed sources in Baghdad have reported that the information adviser at
the US Defence Department, Robert Reily [as transliterated], has begun
his responsibilities of overseeing the resumption of Iraqi TV
broadcasting. The sources added that TV broadcasting was expected to
begin in Baghdad within two to three
weeks. Meanwhile work is under way to get regular radio broadcasting
started within a week. Source: Khabat, Arbil, in Arabic 18 Apr 03 (via
BBCM via DXLD 3-069)
--- Iraqi TV
IRAQI TELEVISION AND RADIO GOES OFF THE AIR
http://www.rosbaltnews.com/2003/04/09/62132.html
BAGHDAD, April 8. The central television and radio station of Iraq went
off the air this morning. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this has
been confirmed by Bashar Maali, an employee of a Syrian radio station who
also worked with the Iraqi television and radio station.
He confirmed that all television and radio broadcasts have been taken off
the air and added that the last television broadcast was a patriotic
musical clip recorded by famous Iraqi singers a week ago. He said this
might have happened as a result of fighting in the area this morning
between US marines and Baas [sic] party guards.
The Iraqi Information Ministry, on the other hand, claims that television
and radio broadcasts were discontinued as a result of work that is being
done on the national television and radio towers
(Rosbalt-News Apr 8, 2003 via M.Terry-G in DXLD 3-061)
IRAQI TV AND RADIO OFF AIR (more)
From The Guardian, Owen Gibson, Tuesday April 8, 2003
Domestic Iraqi television and radio broadcasts were stopped today for the
first time. Broadcasts were blacked out after US attacks targeted
transmitters in the Iraqi capital in an effort to further demoralise
Saddam Hussein's remaining troops.
Despite the encroaching coalition forces, Iraqi television and radio had
until now continued to broadcast a steady stream of propaganda messages
and news but today both were knocked off air for the first time.
This morning the station failed to broadcast a early news bulletin and
instead showed only old footage of Saddam being cheered at rallies and
played patriotic songs.
Zuhair Jezairy, an Iraqi writer who quit Baghdad in 1979, said the
suspension of broadcasts was hugely significant.
"It is very important. He knows that the new generation have been brought
up on TV, that there heroes are from the TV. They are used to seeing him
three of four times a day, they are brought up to see him every day
several times, so maybe if they don't see him maybe they will start to
believe he is gone," Mr Jezairy told Sky News.
The US military indicated it had targeted television transmitters in the
Iraqi capital.
"Clearly we would like to destroy Saddam's capability to disseminate
lies," said Major Michael Birmingham with the US 3rd Infantry Division.
Local state-run Baghdad Radio was still transmitting but airing only
national music and songs in praise of Saddam.
"Saddam has confused his enemy, Saddam is ours and we will stay with him
until we die, he is our Saddam and we will defend him unto death," were
the lyrics of one song.
US officials said they bombed a building in Baghdad on Monday after
intelligence reports that Saddam and his two sons may have been inside.
It was not clear if they were hit.
In recent days the domestic state television channel has run a morning
statement from the military detailing successes against US-led invasion
forces, but there was no sign of it today, although times of the
broadcast have varied.
Central Baghdad was a battleground on Tuesday, with US air raids pounding
the area around the information ministry.
No officials from the ministry were available to explain why the
television broadcasts had ceased.
Iraq's international satellite television channel has been off the air
for a couple of days. US forces have targeted Iraqi broadcasting
facilities, saying they were used by Saddam to maintain control over the
country
(Guardian April 9, 2003 via M.Terry-G in DXLD 3-061)
--- Psyop for Iraq
PSYOP: Saddam's Bad Rap
No one wants to take credit for a rap-song parody lampooning Saddam
Hussein
By Suzanne Smalley and Mark Hosenball, Newsweek Magazine
April 28, 2003 Issue
http://www.msnbc.com/news/902674.asp
April 28 - British and American intelligence agencies are falling over
themselves to avoid taking credit for a rap-song parody lampooning Saddam
Hussein that has been broadcast into Iraq by a clandestine radio station.
A Saddam Impersonator rhymes out a message in both English and Arabic to
the tune of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise." "If you don't like me, I kill
you/I am Saddam," he raps. "Smoking weed and getting high/I know the
devil is by my side... My days are finished and I will die/ All I need is
chili fries."
The rap has apparently been broadcast since early April. It was overheard
and translated by the BBC, which reported the CIA was behind the spoof.
But officials familiar with U.S. intelligence operations told Newsweek
the CIA was not involved. Some U.S. sources suggested the broadcast was
perhaps the work of Britain's secret-intelligence service, M.I.6, which
is renowned for psychological warfare. A British government spokeswoman
said, "We don't talk about intelligence matters."
U.S. officials note that during a referendum campaign last year the Iraqi
dictator used Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" as his theme
song: "If I should stay/I would only be in your way/So I'll go... We both
know I'm not what you need."
(MSNBC Apr 20, 2003 via N.Grace-USA for CRW)
'Psyops' thought to have saved lives during war
http://www.newsobserver.com/iraq/latest_front/story/2476298p-2302493c.htm
l
(via A.Sennit-HOL Apr 21, 2003 for CRW)
--- Radio Free Iraq
Radio Free Iraq to Open Baghdad Bureau
Saturday, April 12, 2003 · Last updated 9:04 a.m. PT
PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- After 23 years in exile, Iraqi journalist
Kamran Al-Karadaghi is finally going home.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&s
lug=War%20Radio%20Free%20Iraq
(via J.Dybka-TN-USA Apr 11, 2003 for CRW)
Same from:
http://www.620ktar.com/news/article.aspx?article_id=122459&cc=012345
(via M.Terry-G in DXLD 3-064)
Rove: 'Radio Free Europe' Needed for Arabs
White House Aide Praises, Pans Press Coverage
APRIL 11, 2003, By Mark Fitzgerald
NEW ORLEANS -- When the Iraq war is concluded, the United States must
devote itself to winning the hearts and minds of the Islamic world just
as America in the Cold War contended against Communism with propaganda
outlets such as Radio Free Europe, White House senior advisor Karl Rove
told the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) at its concluding
convention session in New Orleans Friday.
http://www.mediainfo.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/article_display.jsp
?vnu_content_id=1864279
(via J.Dybka-TN-USA Apr 11, 2003 for CRW)
But, but, there already is such a station, as in next story. Not to
mention, R. Sawa and various US-sponsored clandestines. Further evidence
of how disconnected from reality Rove is (G.Hauser-USA Apr 13, 2003 in
DXLD 3-064)
--- Radio in Basra (?)
Bush, Blair Tell Iraqis Their 'Nightmare' Ending
By Andrew Cawthorne and Michael Holden, Reuters
April 10, 2003
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2911-2003Apr10.html
London - The U.S. and British leaders launched a new TV service into Iraq
on Thursday with a pledge to Iraqis that they would control their own
future once the "nightmare" of Saddam Hussein was over.
"You deserve better than tyranny and corruption and torture chambers...
Your nation will soon be free," President Bush said in a pre-recorded
message.
"The nightmare that Saddam Hussein has brought to your nation will soon
be over," he added.
The messages from Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were being
beamed into Iraq via a new Arabic TV network, produced by the U.S. and UK
governments, called Nahwa Al-Hurrieh or "Toward Freedom."
Due to be launched Thursday afternoon with the messages, it will be
broadcast for one hour a day from a U.S. Air Force plane flying over the
country, providing news and "coalition public service announcements,"
British officials said.
The leaders' joint initiative was a bid to reassure ordinary Iraqis of
Anglo-American intentions and hasten the full collapse of Saddam's power
structure. They repeated familiar lines on Saddam and his alleged of
weapons of mass destruction.
"Saddam Hussein's regime is collapsing and the years of brutality,
oppression and fear are coming to an end," Blair said. "We did not want
this war but in refusing to give up his weapons of mass destruction
Saddam gave us no choice but to act. Now that the war has begun, it will
be seen through to the end."
The two men recorded their messages two days ago at a summit in Northern
Ireland.
Aware of suspicions throughout the Arab world of American and British
"imperialist" pretensions, they promised troops would leave Iraq as soon
as a new government was set up to replace an interim authority due to
take over from the military.
FUTURE BELONGS TO YOU
"Iraq will not be run by Britain or by the United States, or by the
United Nations. It will be run by you," Blair said.
Bush added: "You will be free, free to build a better life instead of
building more palaces for Saddam and his sons...The government of Iraq
and the future of your country will soon belong to you."
Major General Victor Renuart told a briefing at Central Command in Qatar
U.S.-led forces are looking for Iraqis to start a new radio and
television operation in the country.
"We're working very aggressively to find the contacts with the country
and within the city who would like to begin an Iraqi broadcast
network...to allow free Iraqis to begin to broadcast their own TV and
radio throughout the country," he said.
Blair and Bush promised UK-U.S. forces would help maintain law and order,
deliver aid and respect Iraq's religious diversity.
"We will respect your great religious traditions, whose principles of
equality and compassion are essential to Iraq's future," Bush said.
Blair added: "Our forces are friends and liberators of the Iraqi people,
not your conquerors and they will not stay in Iraq a day longer than is
necessary."
The British leader acknowledged many Iraqis feared a repeat of the
aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War when Washington urged them to rise up
against Saddam but did not back them with troops.
"You thought Saddam's rule was being ended, but he stayed, and you
suffered. That will not happen this time. This regime will be gone and
ended," he said.
Blair promised money from Iraqi oil would be kept for Iraqis, and
lambasted Saddam's abuse of resources.
"Saddam Hussein and his regime plundered your nation's wealth. While many
of you live in poverty, they lived lives of luxury. Saddam became one of
the richest men in the world, his money stolen from you the Iraqi
people," he said.
OPPOSITION, AID, ARTS
Fronted by Iraqi journalists, the content for the new U.S.-UK TV service
has been agreed following discussions with the Iraqi exile community in
London, British officials said.
The first broadcast will include an interview with an opposition group, a
report on humanitarian aid, and a feature on Iraqi arts.
It will initially be available to people in central Iraq including
Baghdad, before being extended nationwide on frequencies previously used
by Iraqi TV.
Leaflets have been dropped to inform Iraqis of the new station, and it
has also been publicized on a U.S.-backed radio channel which has been
broadcasting in Iraq since March 20.
The service will last until a "proper, free and open" media can be
established, a British foreign office spokesman said.
(Washington Post April 10, 2003 via N.Grace-USA for CRW)
[Note the second-to-last paragraph that states "Leaflets have been
dropped to inform Iraqis of the new station, and it has also been
publicized on a U.S.-backed radio channel which has been broadcasting in
Iraq since March 20." CENTCOM has not released new leaflet images since
March 23. It is unclear what the March 20 station refers to. Most likely
Radio Nahrain, which the British psyop team is running from Basra.
N.Grace-CRW]
[Then why does the 10 Downing Street Web site give all the frequencies of
Information Radio? -A.Sennit-HOL]
[Andy, Re : http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page3470.asp Yes, this is
odd. I stayed home today with the flu and recorded a few minutes of
Information Radio on 4500 kHz at 1718 GMT. ID is still "Information
Radio." Note, too, that the 10 Downing Street site does not even mention
4500 kHz. I also find it odd that they go into detail about the SOMS-B
platform. It's as if they are taking a lead from DXing.info - or sourcing
their own information from Mika's site. I think the significance of the
March 20 date is the start of the intervention. Although the station name
remains Information Radio they - for whatever reason - are calling it the
same as the TV service. N.Grace-CRW]
--- Radio in Um Quasar
Irak: Radiostation in Umm Kasr on air
Erste irakische Medien "powered by Pentagon"
USA gehen mit Radiostation in Umm Kasr on air
http://www.pressetext.at/pte.mc?pte=030416024
Umm Kasr/ Washington (pte, 16. April 2003 12:10) - Das US-Militär hat
nach der Eroberung des Irak auch mit der Neuordnung der Medienlandschaft
des Landes begonnen. Am Dienstag ging der erste Radiosender "powered by
Pentagon" in der südlichen Grenzstadt Umm Kasr on air, berichtet das Wall
Street Journal (WSJ) heute, Mittwoch. Ein landesweiter TV-Sender und eine
Zeitung sollen folgen. Hinter dem neuen Radiosender mit Namen "Voice of
the New Iraq" steht das vom Pentagon organisierte und von
US-Steuerzahlern bezahlte Iraq Media Network (IMN). Bisher sendete nur
Commando Solo von einem modifizierten C-130-Flugzeug des Pentagons.
"Hier werden Iraker zu Irakern über den Irak sprechen", zitiert das WSJ
einen in das Projekt involvierten Regierungsvertreter. Das Programm soll
von Exil-Irakern und im Land rekrutierten Journalisten gemacht werden. Im
Fall der "Stimme des neuen Irak" wird vor allem auf Pop-Musik gesetzt.
Das Pentagon hofft rasch Unterhaltungsprogramme auf die Beine zu stellen.
Derzeit sei das einzige Entertainment-Programm, wenn man es so nennen
will, eine Endlosschleife von "in Musik umgesetzten Befreiungsszenen",
wie es der Sprecher des US-Zentralkommandos, Josh Rushing, laut WSJ
nennt.
Tatsächlich wird wohl nur ein Bruchteil des Programms aus dem Irak selbst
kommen. Unterhaltung wird wahrscheinlich in Ägypten oder anderen
arabischen Staaten eingekauft. Commando Solo sendet seit vergangener
Woche "Irak und die Welt". Das Nachrichtenprogramm wird vom
US-Radiounternehmen Westwood One http://www.westwoodone.com geliefert und
ist im Wesentlichen eine arabische Übersetzung von US-Nachrichten. Auch
den Aufbau der technischen Infrastruktur übernimmt ein US-Unternehmen,
nämlich Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)
http://www.saic.com , das schon in der Vergangenheit lukrative Verträge
mit dem US-Verteidigungsministerium geschlossen hat. Das in San Diego
ansässige Unternehmen hat vom Pentagon den Auftrag für alle technischen
Arbeiten für IMN bekommen. Der Start des landesweiten TV-Senders könnte
sich laut WSJ noch Monate hinziehen, weil SAIC zuerst die von US-Bomben
zerstörten Sendetürme wieder errichtet werden müsse. (pte-special Irak)
(Ende)
(pressetext.austria via H.Merixner-AUT Apr 17, 2003 in A-DX)
--- Radio Tikrit
PROGRAMME SUMMARY OF RADIO TIKRIT NEWS 1900 GMT 10 APRIL 03
1. Announcement: Huna Radio Tikrit: This is Radio Tikrit - which is
repeated several times.
2. Programme preview
3. Readings from the Koran
4. Song
5. News:
a. Looting widespread in Baghdad. Kirkuk falls in the hands of Kurdish
fighters.
b. Shi'i leader Al-Khu'i was killed in Al-Najaf.
c. Suicide operation near Palestine Hotel in Baghdad: A number of US
marines injured.
d. Kofi Annan said that coalition forces are responsible for implementing
Geneva Convention in Iraq. Annan said Iraqi ambassador to UN has not made
official request for protection or political asylum. The Iraqi envoy is
quoted.
e. Red Cross resumed operations in Baghdad.
f. US Central Command officer said there are no US forces in Tikrit.
g. US forces in Al-Amarah have found Al-Sumud II missiles.
h. Egyptian president met Saudi foreign minister and called for working
for securing stability and security in Iraq.
6. Song
7. The sudden fall of Saddam has stunned the world. Round-up of worldwide
reactions to Saddam's fall. Al-Sharq al-Awsat wrote an article on the
whereabouts of Saddam.
8. Song.
9. Continuation of round-up of worldwide reactions to Saddam's fall and
on the whereabouts of Saddam.
10. Song
11. [Impersonator] [In Arabic] God is great; God is great; accursed be
the criminals; o great nation; o the good people of this homeland; this
is your day and this is your hour as the criminal Bush rises [people in
the background laughing and exchanging a few words with me]; I will tell
you, let us drop this [more noise in the background]; what about my
speech? Leave the song [more noise in the background]. Come on, do you
think I am a singer? Leave me alone. Play the song, I tell you.
[A member of the group] Yes sir. Do you have another request?
[Impersonator] Play [people laughing the background] [In English] DJ,
Saddam with you. If you don't like me, I kill you [more laughter]. I am
Saddam, I don't have a bomb; I am not a soldier, I work at a farm. Bush
wanna kick me, I don't know why and if I call him, he does me goodbye.
Smoking weed and getting high. I know the devil is by my side. My days
are finished and I will die; all I need is chilly fries. [In Arabic] Why
is that one not dancing? Come on man dance; I'll remove your eye and the
eye of the one who gave birth to you. [Singing again in English] I am so
dead, I am so bad. Stop killing Iraqis [words indistinct]. I am big
daddy, this is my game. I don't have feelings; I don't have shame;
forty-eight hours left, Bush said; all my troops left me and fled; now I
am sitting by myself; my ass is shaking, I am going to hell. Where is the
music?
[Member of the group] Mr President, this is a part with no music in it.
[Impersonator] [In Arabic] Stop showing off, speak in Iraqi [words
indistinct]. May God curse you. [Singing again in English] I am for
adoption, anybody wanna adopt me? [Noise in the background and someone
saying in English: Yes, Saddam wanna adopt a new dog; others saying:
Shake it, shake ]
[Impersonator talking in Arabic] Who says he does not have songs or
music. I say I have a big heart and I say goodbye to you [all the others
replying in English: Bye-bye, may God curse you, bye-bye for ever].
[Words indistinct] [Singing in English again] Everybody in the house say
you hate me [others replying in English: we hate you]. What's up? What's
going on when I rap, yeah? Saddam in the house. Everybody in the house
say we hate you [other replying in English: we hate you] Everybody in the
house say I hate you [others replying: we hate you] [Repeated several
times]
12. Call to all Iraqis not to damage public property and safeguard
security and prevent looting.
13. Song by Iraqi singer Kadhim al-Sahir.
14. Call to governorates of liberated Iraq not to resort to revenge acts.
15. Song
16. Looting tarnishes the reputation of Iraq and the Iraqis and is
prohibited by religion.
17. Song.
18. To the inhabitants of Mosul: All the Iraqis in all governorates are
looking at you and tell you to urge everybody to stop fighting as this is
all futile, even Baghdad has fallen and nobody knows what happened to
Saddam and his sons. If you join the coalition forces that would be
better for you.
19. Forces from the Kurdish peshmerga and the coalition have entered
Kirkuk. We hope that this town will live in peace.
20. Song.
21. Repeat of call against looting. [See item 12 above].
22. Song.
23. Independent sources from Karbala and Al-Najaf have said that the
Islamic holy shrines are safe and many people are visiting the tombs of
Imam Ali and Imam Al-Husayn.
24. Continuation of round-up of worldwide reactions to Saddam's fall and
on the whereabouts of Saddam.
25. Song.
26. News: [See item 5 above].
Source: Radio Tikrit in Arabic 1900 gmt 10 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD
3-062)
RADIO TIKRIT PICTURE BULLETIN 1900-2100 GMT 14 APRIL 2003
Station announcement: "Huna Radio Tikrit, this is Tikrit Radio, for the
whole of Iraq and for all the Iraqis", repeated several times.
1. Presenter identifies himself as Ibrahim al-Nasiri, welcomes listeners
2. Reading from the Koran
3. Religious commentary
4. News
a. Coalition forces military spokesman Vincent Brooks says US forces took
presidential palace in Tikrit
b. Brooks says all Iraqi oil wells are under coalition forces' control
c. Marines exchanged fire with sniper in Baghdad building near Palestine
Hotel
d. Spain expels seven Iraqi diplomats of former regime
e. US POWs handed over by Iraqi soldiers says treated well while in
captivity
f. Iraqis directing US forces to places that may contain weapons of mass
destruction
g. British Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien says US, UK forces to
leave Iraq after formation of democratic government
h. UK's Jack Straw says Syria not on list of target countries after Iraq,
but says Syrians must answers some questions
i. British defence secretary says UK wants to maintain dialogue with
Syria
j. Jordanian king meets President Mubarak in Cairo
k. Saudi foreign minister says Saudi Arabia calls for emergency regional
meeting of foreign ministers of Iraq's neighbours
l. Saudi foreign minister on brief visit in Syria; meets President
Al-Asad
Source: Radio Tikrit in Arabic 1900 gmt 11 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD
3-066)
RADIO TIKRIT NEWS AND PROGRAMME SUMMARY 1900-2100 GMT 15 APRIL 2003
Station announcement: " Huna Radio Tikrit, this is Tikrit Radio, for the
whole of Iraq and for all the Iraqis" , repeated several times. 1.
Presenter identifies himself as Ibrahim al-Nasiri, welcomes
listeners
2. Reading from the Holy Koran
3. Religious commentary
4. Song
5. News
a. US officials said today that US forces have begun distributing
pamphlets in Baghdad urging Iraqi citizens not to leave their homes at
night in an attempt to curb crimes and to avoid any further street
fighting.
b. US forces are trying to restore law and order to the streets of
Baghdad after the spread of looting and destruction.
c. Our correspondent in Tikrit has just informed us that Coalition forces
have captured a car carrying all the ingredients need to make a bomb in
Tikrit.
d. Powell promises that the US is committed to trace and find the
artefacts stolen from Iraqi museums and to repair any broken ones.
e. An official from the ICRC said today that Iraqi medical staff have
resumed their work in hospitals which have not been looted.
f. The ICRC has expressed its hope that water will return to the eastern
region of Baghdad.
e. An official from the UN World Food Programme said that they have
bought hundreds of thousands of tonnes of food aid for the Iraqi people.
f. This news comes to you from Radio Tikrit.
g. The leadership of a unit of 16,000 Iraqi soldiers in the governorate
of al-Anbar, west of Iraq has surrendered to the US troops.
h. The US army says the last of the burning oil wells has been put out.
g. US officials say they believe that Saddam's first wife Sajida has
escaped from Iraq to Syria, while other reports say she may have gone to
another country.
(BBCM Apr 16, 2003 in DXLD 3-067)
--- Towards Freedom TV
Towards Freedom TV
According to the Financial Times the ID is Nahoo al-Hurriya. Retuers is
writing it as Nahwa Al-Hurrieh.
(N.Grace-USA Apr 10, 2003 for CRW)
NEW US-UK TV STATION BROADCASTS TO IRAQ
The US-led campaign to win Iraqi hearts and minds has been stepped up. A
new television channel is being broadcast in Iraq airing messages from
the American president and British prime minister. BBC correspondent
Keith Adams filed the following dispatch on 10 April:
"In the new era that is coming to Iraq, your country will no longer be
held captive to the will of a cruel dictator. You will be free."
President George Bush addressing the Iraqi people on their new television
channel. Towards Freedom is its name, broadcast from an American Hercules
aeroplane. If Iraqis tune in to the frequency once occupied by state
television, this is the station they get:
"I'm glad to be able to speak to you today, to tell you that Saddam
Husayn's regime is collapsing, that the years of brutality, oppression
and fear are coming to an end."
Reassurance from the British prime minister, Tony Blair. The aim of the
channel is pretty clear, to convince viewers the US-led troops are a
liberating force for good. We're told Iraqis are used to tuning in to
propaganda from their leader - perhaps Towards Freedom won't seem such a
new experience.
(BBCM via DXLD 3-062)
IRAQI KURDISH PUK TV REPORTS BUSH, BLAIR MESSAGES TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE
Excerpt from report by Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan satellite TV on
10 April
US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have
used a new television station to send their message to the Iraqi people.
Bush said that the American and coalition forces were operating inside
Baghdad and will not stop until Saddam's regime was toppled. The
government of Iraq and the future of the country would soon belong to the
Iraqis.
In his TV appearance Blair said Saddam Husayn's regime was collapsing and
that the use of brutality, oppression and fear were coming to an end, and
that a new and better was there for the future of Iraq. Blair sought to
reassure the Iraqi people that this time the coalition will not retreat
to leave them at the mercy of Saddam as happened in 1991. [Text of Blair
and Bush's messages]
(BBCM via DXLD 3-062)
BBC - THE BUSH-BLAIR COALITION - STARTS TV SERVICE IN IRAQ
Well, the day's main media story developed with breathtaking speed, and
for perhaps the only time since it opened, I actually found some useful
information on the official 10 Downing Street Web site
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page3470.asp There you'll find lots of
information about the coalition's new TV service for Iraq, Towards
Freedom TV (in Arabic: 'nahoo al-hurriya' ). You can view the text of the
messages to the people of Iraq that Bush and Blair recorded during their
Northern Ireland meeting - and even watch them in streaming Real Video if
you're desperate for something to do! More information on our main Iraq
media news page.
The transmission in Iraq was scheduled to go out at 1400 UT, but even
before that some TV stations were carrying extracts of it. Tarek said he
saw about 2 seconds on Abu Dhabi TV, apparently as a result of a
switching error. In The Netherlands, NOS had it with Dutch subtitles on
top of the Arabic subtitles, which must have infuriated the 41,000 Iraqis
living here :-)
The TV service was apparently masterminded by the British, but 80% of the
material will originate in the US - some things never change :-) The
Brits seem very proud of the fact that the whole thing was put together
in eight days, about the same time it takes a TV repair man in the UK to
come and fix your set. Now, if they could only get things like law and
order, food distribution and medical supplies in Iraq sorted out that
fast, I'm sure the population would really appreciate it.
I was interested to see that they even included all the technical stuff
about Commando Solo. Now, maybe I'm getting cynical in my old age, but I
venture to suggest that this isn't so much Number 10 being interested in
DXing and shortwave listening as the person charged with putting the
information on the Web site being incapable of deciding what information
is relevant and what isn't.
We also had a report from a Russian news agency that one of their
correspondents had heard Iraqi radio last night hailing the fall of
Saddam. It looks as if the correspondent - if he heard anything at all -
was listening to an opposition station as there's no state radio on the
air in Baghdad, and today BBC Monitoring could still hear pro-Saddam
broadcasts coming - presumably - from northern Iraq. But with today's
military developments, I doubt they'll be on for much longer
(A.Sennitt-HOL RN blog April 10, 2003 via DXLD 3-062)
U.S. DEPLOYS IRAQI TV TO BEAM MESSAGE.
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush took over Iraqi state
television Channel 3 on 10 April, replacing tributes to deposed President
Hussein with greetings from Bush, the Pentagon, and British Prime
Minister Tony Blair in an effort to persuade Iraqis that they are being
liberated, not occupied, "The Washington Post" reported on 11 April.
Within a few days, U.S. officials said they hope to open a second
television station in Iraq running subtitled ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and Fox
News Channel nightly news shows. CNN declined to have its programs
included. On 10 April, the White House decided to fund a second channel
to run about two hours of Arabic-language news from the Broadcasting
Board of Governors, the government agency that oversees Voice of America
and RFE/RL, the paper reported. These two new U.S.-funded channels in
Iraq will be transmitted from Commando Solo, a fleet of converted EC-130E
transport planes deployed to beam radio psychological-operations programs
to Iraq. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office will run its
"Towards Freedom TV" about one hour each night on the Pentagon channel.
Its first show included an interview with Laith Kubba, a prominent Iraqi
exile, according to "The Washington Post" on 10 April. CC
(RFE-RL Media Matters 3-14, Apr 14, 2003)
UK-US BROADCASTS TO IRAQ DETAILED |
Text of report from UK government's 10 Downing Street web site dated 12
April; subheadings as published
Towards Freedom
Towards Freedom (TF) are radio and television services broadcast in
Arabic direct to the people of Iraq. The radio service started
broadcasting a daily one-hour Arabic-language programmes to Iraq on 20
March 2003.
The television service begun to broadcast daily hour-long Arabic-language
television programmes designed to complement the radio on 10 April 2003.
The first episode will feature addresses by the president of the United
States and the British prime minister to the people of Iraq. These were
recorded especially for the programme on 8 April, during the president's
and prime minister's talks in Northern Ireland.
There was a real need to fill the information gap that materialised in
Iraq under Saddam's regime. The people of Iraq had no balance in the
interpretation of events that was fed to them and there was no mechanism
to allow the Coalition to explain its intentions.
In the long term, Iraq needs a free and open media sector which engages
people in the debate needed to build a free and open society. But more
immediately, the Coalition needs to be able to explain its activities,
achievements and intentions direct to the people of Iraq. The mechanisms
to do this didn't exist under Saddam.
Propaganda?
No. Although the Coalition wants to build support in as many ways as
possible, as far as Towards Freedom goes, we think that balanced, timely,
relevant and interesting information is the best way of doing this.
Towards Freedom TV and radio services are designed to deliver this for
the people of Iraq while Iraq gradually builds a free and open media
sector.
What will be broadcast?
Presented by Iraqi journalists, the programmes include regular items,
highlights and features likely to interest an Iraqi audience, as well as
Coalition public service announcements.
Regular Items
News: Towards Freedom's first news bulletin will bring its Iraqi audience
up to date on developments so far. The aim is gradually to start to fill
the information gap that Saddam's propaganda allowed to develop. Towards
Freedom's news aims build a balanced picture of developments in Iraq.
This will include giving the international Coalition the opportunity to
explain its intentions direct to the people of Iraq. Supporting analysis
and comment by Iraqis will explain what this means for Iraq.
Press Review: The first programme will feature a review of the London
press. It will also review a regional newspaper from Basra, the first
publication to report about developments in Iraq in a way that shows that
it is independent of the Ba'th regime and Saddam. As an independent press
develops in Iraq, we plan to review other publications as well.
Public Service Announcements: Towards Freedom will include these
announcements designed to address immediate practical issues. For
example, to encourage people to stay at work and carry on working
normally; to warn them about paramilitary activity and let them know
about newspaper distribution.
Features: Towards Freedom will include feature items about key issues for
the people of Iraq, including reconstruction, healthcare, women and
children, political and economic developments, culture and personal
stories. The first television programme will feature an interview with
Laith Kubba, a representative of the Iraqi National Group, a report on
the recent meeting between the prime minister and Iraqi opposition
leaders, a report on humanitarian aid for Iraq, a report on Umm Qasr and
an arts feature.
How will people know about it?
The programme will be broadcast on one of the frequencies of existing
Iraqi television channels so Iraqi television sets will already be tuned
in to receive it. The radio service is publicised through leaflet drops
which list the frequencies on which it is broadcast. As more channels
open to us we will let people know about the television service using the
radio service, leaflets, by word of mouth and other Iraqi media as these
become available.
An alternative to Iraqi television
This will be the first time that most viewers will have had an
alternative to Iraqi state TV and the first direct opportunity to get
honest news and information about their country. For years the regime
exercised absolute control over the media, except in the Kurdish enclaves
in the north. Satellite dishes were illegal. And the subscription fee for
the very limited and censored satellite television was that was only
recently provided was well beyond the means of all but those who were
close to the regime. The media could be described as "totalitarian".
Characteristics included a flood of slogans and propaganda to citizens;
efforts to persuade people that Saddam was a God-like figure who never
made mistakes and news bulletins which reported mainly on Saddam's
activities. How will the programme be brought to the people of Iraq?
Towards Freedom is a remarkable team effort. It is the first time so many
UK government departments and international Coalition partners have
worked so closely together on such a project. The concept of Towards
Freedom came from a cross-government information working group, supported
by the UK National Contingent Headquarters in Doha.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's public diplomacy department
commissioned and runs Towards Freedom. The Ministry of Defence's
Permanent Joint Head Headquarters (PJHQ) at Northwood is meeting the
television programming costs.
The programming is outsourced to World Television, the company which also
produces British Satellite News. The production team was set up, and the
first programme produced, in just eight days. The first programme will be
seen in Iraq at 1200 gmt (1300 bst) on 10 April. The United States of
America's Department of Defence assets are delivering the broadcasts in
Iraq. The programme will be broadcast primarily from a US aircraft called
Commando Solo, a highly modified C-130 (Hercules-type) aircraft that has
flying radio and television transmission capability.
Careful consultation
The programmes' content is agreed in close consultation with Iraqis,
across government, with Coalition headquarters in Doha, staff in Iraq and
other stakeholders, including Iraqis in Iraq. A consultative group or
Sounding Board of members of the Iraqi community in London advises us
about the content of the programmes to help make them relevant.
Cutting-edge technology
World Television sends the completed programme daily by satellite in the
late evening to the US base of 4th Psychological Operations Group
(Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From Fort Bragg, it is
rebroadcast by military satellite to Qatar, recorded on to videotape and
loaded into a video player on board Commando Solo. Fort Bragg can also
send the programme to mobile US radio and television
broadcasting systems called SOMS-B (Special Operations Media System-B)
which allow it to be rebroadcast from different locations in Iraq.
Commando Solo broadcasts on 693 kHz mediumwave, 9715 kHz shortwave and
100.4 MHz FM; SOMS-B on 756 kHz mediumwave and 11292 kHz shortwave.
The television signal will be broadcast from the aircraft and SOMS-B
systems to ordinary television sets on frequencies that were used by the
regime's domestic television services. So the people of Iraq will be able
to turn on their televisions and view news and information about their
country from the Coalition, as though it were coming from their local
terrestrial transmitter. In due course the programmes will also be
broadcast by US Special Operations Command mobile radio and television
stations.
Source: 10 Downing Street web site, London, in English 12 Apr 03 (via
BBCM via DXLD 3-064)
BROADCASTS HOPE TO REACH IRAQIS
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/04/11/MN294748.DTL
(via A.Bigley in DXLD 3-064)
IRANIAN TV CHANNEL "RESISTANCE" BEAMING PROGRAMMES TO IRAQ |
Text of report by Iranian Baztab web site on 15 April
Tehran, 15 April: Following the inauguration of the TV channel, Towards
Freedom, by George W. Bush last week, there have been other reports on
the setting up of major radio and TV channels in Iraq. Towards Freedom,
which has its transmitters on board an aircraft, transmits programmes
five hours a day, five days a week.
At the same time there are reports on the transfer of a ready-made TV
station from London to Iraq. This TV station has 12 transmitters and will
arrive in Iraq from Britain in the near future.
Since the American moves, there have been other reports on the setting up
of three major radio channels by the opposition Kurds. At the moment the
Resistance Channel is the only stable TV channel in Iraq, which was built
in three days in the former cafeteria of the production building of the
Voice and Vision [Iranian radio and TV
organization]. The channel uses the aerial of the Education Channel to
broadcast programmes for the people of Iraq. The station was inaugurated
last week by Ayatollah Hakim, the head of the Supreme Assembly for
Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SAIRI].
Source: Baztab web site, Tehran, in Persian 1400 gmt 15 Apr 03 (via BBCM
via DXLD 3-066)
--- US Media for Iraq
COST OF RADIO RECEIVERS GOES UP IN LINE WITH PEOPLE'S NEED FOR LATEST
NEWS | Text of report by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper
Brayati on 9 April
Today, at the peak of the war launched by the coalition forces against
the Iraqi regime, the radio receiver is the most saleable and most
necessary media equipment that the citizens need, particularly at a time
when electricity gets disconnected in the cities, as well as in villages
and the rural areas where perhaps not all villages have been supplied
with electricity. That is why it is through the radio receiver that the
people seek the most updated and hottest news of the war front.
Consequently, the price of buying and selling radios has undergone a
remarkable rise in the markets.
(BBCM via DXLD 3-062)
RADIOS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ RECEIVE ONLY U.S. VOICE OF THE TWO RIVERS.
Many of some 20,000 transistor radios distributed by British soldiers in
southern Iraq in early April allegedly receive only the Voice of the Two
Rivers, a station set up by coalition forces, according RSF on 7 April,
citing the French daily "Le Monde." The coalition's psychological
operations are now largely targeting civilians, the paper reported. The
Voice of the Two Rivers, heard in southern Iraq on five frequencies,
broadcasts music and U.S. "psychological operations" messages, according
to "Le Monde." CC
(RFE-RL Media Matters 3-14, Apr 14, 2003)
Bush: Iraq Will Soon Be Free of Saddam Hussein
By Scott Stearns, Voice of America
April 10, 2003
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=401ABA6D-BDCD-48C2-A73B87F3D8
7EF6E4
[Note the news about the newspaper in Southern Iraq. -N.Grace-CRW]
President Bush appeared on television in Baghdad, telling the Iraqi
people that they soon will be free from the government of Saddam Hussein.
The president's pre-recorded message says the "nightmare" of Saddam
Hussein will soon be over.
"At this moment, the regime of Saddam Hussein is being removed from
power, and a long era of fear and cruelty is ending," said president
Bush. "American and coalition forces are now operating inside Baghdad,
and we will not stop until Saddam's corrupt gang is gone."
The president says coalition troops are respecting Iraq's "great
religious traditions," and will help maintain law and order before the
creation of an interim authority to organize new elections.
"We will help you build a peaceful and representative government that
protects the rights of all citizens. And then our military forces will
leave," he said. "Iraq will go forward as a unified, independent, and
sovereign nation that has regained a respected place in the world."
The president's message, with Arabic subtitles, opens what will now be
five hours of nightly television broadcast on a U.S. Defense Department
network, called "Towards Freedom." The speech aired at 6:00 p.m. Baghdad
time on the same channels previously used by Iraqi TV, but it is unclear
how many people saw the message, as most of the Iraqi capital is without
electricity.
The broadcasts are part of a broader push by the Bush administration to
counter some Arab media portrayals of coalition troops as an occupying
army. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says ground and air-based
transmitters will be supplemented with mobile units, as the areas under
coalition control expand.
The coalition information campaign includes 24 hour radio broadcasts and
a new newspaper in southern Iraq, called The Times, with an expected
initial circulation of 10,000.
The president's television message was recorded Tuesday in Northern
Ireland, where Mr. Bush met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr.
Blair also appeared on the Baghdad broadcast, saying Iraq's new
government will not be dictated by outside powers.
"This regime will be gone," Mr. Blair said. "And then, we will work with
you to build the peaceful, prosperous Iraq that you want, and you
deserve. This Iraq will not be run by Britain, or by the U.S., or by the
U.N. It will be run by you, the people of Iraq."
Once the war is finished, President Bush says, Iraq will enter a new era,
no longer held captive by what he calls "the will of a cruel dictator."
"You will be free to build a better life, instead of building more
palaces for Saddam and his sons, free to pursue economic prosperity,
without the hardship of economic sanctions, free to travel and speak your
mind, free to join in the political affairs of Iraq," Mr. Bush said. "And
all the people who make up your country; Kurds, Shi'a, Turkomans, Sunnis,
and others will be free of the terrible persecution that so many have
endured."
Coalition television broadcasts will be controlled by the U.S. and
British military. Mr. Fleischer says they may include rebroadcasts from
independent sources of news in both countries.
(Vo America Apr 10, 2003 via N.Grace-USA for CRW)
.. using Bush and Blair ?
http://usinfo.state.gov/cgi-bin/washfile/display.pl?p=/products/washfile/
latest&f=03041008.tlt&t=/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml
QUESTION: Richard, the White House is using the military broadcast system
to put out this -- these messages today and push using Bush and Blair.
Don't you really think that VOA should be doing this? I mean, that's sort
of what they were designed for. Is it a concern that the military is now
putting out the U.S. message instead of the --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't think -- I am sure VOA's broadcasts into Iraq have
continued and continued actively. You can check with them on the kind of
programming, the number of hours that they are putting out. But
certainly, their broadcasting to Iraq has continued. And there are other
international broadcasters that can be seen and heard inside Iraq.
I would say that there are probably only certain parts of the U.S.
Government that are equipped to set up a broadcast in a situation of
turmoil and difficulty like the one that exists currently in Baghdad. And
so I don't see it as strange in any way that the military is in a
position to do that; whereas, other broadcasters with fixed transmitters
wouldn't do that.
I am not sure, I think part of it is to be -- you have to get in there to
be broadcasting a local signal that can be heard on other frequencies.
VOA is frequently on shortwave or on repeat broadcasts where there is a
local transmitter, which, obviously, doesn't exist in Iraq at this point.
QUESTION: Do you know if there are plans for the civilian information
bureaus of this government to take over from the military, to do
programming and to --
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know if we actually will. I think what you see is
probably a temporary arrangement. The goal would be for the Iraqi people
themselves -- have I said that before? -- for the Iraqi people themselves
to take charge of this, as so many other areas, so that they can
broadcast their own news, their own information, in an open manner
consistent with freedom of information and freedom of expression.
(via J.Dybka-TN-USA Apr 11, 2003 for CRW)
U.S., U.K. moving from air war to the airwaves
Appearing at the same time and on the same station as Saddam Hussein did
just days ago, the two Western leaders sought to reach out to the Iraqi
people
By David Sanger, New York Times and Jim Ruttenberg
http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87~11268~1319494,00.html
(New York Times via J.Dybka-TN-USA Apr 11, 2003 for CRW)
US RADIO AND TV BROADCASTS TO IRAQ DETAILED
At a US Central Command Operation Iraqi Freedom briefing in Qatar on 11
April, Brig-Gen Vincent Brooks, Deputy Director of Operations, said: "...
We do continue our efforts to communicate with the Iraqi people in a
number of methods. The Coalition began broadcasting world news television
broadcasts in Arabic today, and this is done using existing military
broadcast platforms. And these are in addition to the radio broadcasts
that continue 24 hours a day, and the leaflet drops and daily interfaces
that we have...
"We recognize that there are some areas that don't have television. Now,
that's been the case for some period of time here, not just with the lack
of power in and around the Baghdad area, but some other areas, also. We
know that there are broadcasts that are being received in certain parts
of the country, and frankly, Iraqi television channel number 3 has been
run by the coalition now for well over a week, perhaps longer than that -
maybe even two weeks, and has not been run by Iraqi TV. Much of what you
saw broadcast was satellite, and we know that there are some elites that
had access to satellite television. There are also some population areas
that have generators. So having said that, while we recognize we're not
reaching all of the population yet by television, we think it's important
to begin broadcasting right now for those who can receive it. And that
goes broader than the Baghdad area; it's - it covers a good portion of
the country. Our radio broadcasts, as I mentioned, cover all of the
country and have for some time on five different frequencies, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week...."
Source: US Central Command web site in English 12 Apr 03 (via BBCM via
DXLD 3-064)
--- Voice of Rebellious Iraq
PICTURE BULLETIN OF VOICE OF REBELLIOUS IRAQ RADIO
1900 GMT 19 APRIL 03 [Reception poor]
1. Song
2. Music
3. News headlines
4. Announcement: "Dear listeners everywhere. May God make you happy and
grant you all that is good. From the Voice of Rebellious Iraq, I greet
you and present the first of our news bulletins, read by Zuhayr
al-Baghdadi."
a. The head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq,
Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim says that Iraqis must remain united, in an
address to a rally in Qom in which he urged people to make the pilgrimage
to Karbala. Correspondent's report from Qom.
b. News agencies and satellite TV channels have reported that hundreds of
thousands of Iraqis performed the Friday prayers in Karbala "challenging
the foreign occupation of Iraq and stressing the unity of the Islamic
ranks". Many thousands also prayed in Al-Najaf and Al-Kufah, while in
Baghdad the prayers were followed by demonstrations. Mosque imams called
for unity against foreign occupation. In Tehran the Friday prayers imam
called for foreigners not to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq.
c. Millions of Muslims from Iraq and neighbouring countries are making
the pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Husayn in Karbala for the first time
since Saddam Husayn took power.
d. Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim has sent a message to Iran's Ayatollah Khamene'i
asking him to aid the Iraqi people.
e. The newspaper Keyhan has praised the unity of the Iraqi people.
f. Russian newspaper criticizes performance of US forces in Iraq.
g. The USA continues the search for the billions of dollars which Saddam
Husayn stole from the Iraqi people.
5. Song, followed by three-minute break in reception.
6. Part of commentary on pilgrimage to Karbala and the Shi'i martyrs,
hoping for victory for the Muslim people, interspersed with religious
chanting.
7. Commentary by Iraqi speaker on the sufferings of Iraq for 35 years
under Saddam Husayn, emphasizing the unity of the Iraqi people in Islam,
despite efforts of enemies to divide them. People were unable to carry
out their religious rites and duties in freedom.
8. Song on unity within an Islamic state.
9. Commentary on Zionist crimes, desire for expansion, in the Middle
East, including rumours that Mossad had helped Saddam Husayn to escape to
Russia.
10. Dialogue with an official from the Supreme Council for the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) in Al-Kut, who says that Iraq is for all the
Iraqis and that everyone is working towards that end. The office of SCIRI
represents this trend, and the popular Islamic resistance has played a
major role in the downfall of Saddam.
Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 19 Apr 03 (via DXLD 3-070)
--- Voice of the Liberation of Iraq
PICTURE BULLETIN OF VOICE OF LIBERATION OF IRAQ 1730 GMT 10 APRIL 03
[Reception: Average-poor- to worthless in parts]
1. Opening announcement by male presenter: "This is Voice of the
Liberation of Iraq [Ar: Huna Sawt Tahrir Al-Iraq], voice of democracy,
equality and liberation. Voice of peace, tolerance and coexistence, voice
of the civil society and voice of the various ethnic groups, religions
and rites in Iraq."
2. Times of broadcasting and frequencies of the radio.
3. Call from the coalition forces' command to the masses of Kirkuk:
national property in Kirkuk and other Iraqi towns belong to the Iraqi
people and not to the Iraqi regime or Saddam and his aides: Thus all
citizens are called upon to protect this public property and not damage
it.
4. News:
a. A Kurdish commander announces control over Kirkuk. Reuters quoted a
Kurdish commander as saying that Kirkuk is now under the control of
Kurdish fighters.
b. Reuters correspondent said he saw US tanks advancing towards Mosul.
c. US military spokesman said US forces have taken control of Al-Qa'im
near Syrian border.
d. Russian paper said that attack against Russian diplomatic convoy can
be explained as being a clash between Russian and US intelligence to
obtain secret archives of Saddam and said that these documents were
likely to be in Moscow.
e. Russia has denied reports that Saddam has sought refuge at Russian
embassy in Baghdad.
f. Jordanian source has denied that Saddam has fled to Jordan. A lot of
speculation going on as to whereabouts of Saddam and his information
minister.
g. AFP has said that thousands of Kurds took to the streets in a number
of Kurdish towns to celebrate US control over Baghdad.
h. Mubarak said there is need for Iraqis to administer their country as
soon as possible.
i. Powell has informed his Egyptian counterpart on the situation in
Baghdad. Iraqi opposition has said that the regime's leaders have
retreated to Tikrit. Fleisher quoted on Saddam and situation in Iraq.
j. Report on the situation in Baghdad.
5. Call from coalition forces' command to citizens in Kirkuk and other
ethnic groups to remain calm and not resort to revenge under any reason.
All those who commit such a crime will be severely punished by the
coalition forces.
6. Song.
7. Call to citizens in Kirkuk and surrounding areas not to resort to acts
of revenge.
8. Saddam fell and all the big lies fell with him. The fall of Saddam's
regime came as a shock in various parts of the Arab world which is
divided regarding this war.
[Turkish station opened on the same frequency making the voice of
liberation of Iraq inaudible for a few minutes].
9. Commentary: "Abandoning the Iraqi regime is not difficult": Only
yesterday, Russia, Germany and France were at the forefront of those who
opposed the war.
10. Song.
Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in Arabic 1730 gmt 10 Apr 03
(via BBCM via DXLD 3-062)
VOICE OF THE LIBERATION OF IRAQ PICTURE BULLETIN 1730 GMT 14 APRIL 2003
1. Opening announcement by male presenter: " This is the Voice of the
Liberation of Iraq [Arabic: huna sawt tahrir al-iraq], the voice of
democracy, equality and liberation. The voice of peace, tolerance and
coexistence, voice of the civil society and voice of the various ethnic
groups, religions and rites in Iraq."
2. Times of broadcasting and frequencies of the radio .
3. Call from the coalition forces' command to the people of Iraq,
including Tikrit and all other Iraqi cities whether liberated from the
grip of Saddam Husayn or not. We ask you to protect public property and
not destroy any of the public services buildings such as those of
education, culture, health and other governmental buildings. This is the
property of the people and not of the deposed regime and
its followers.
4. The US leadership has pledged to take the necessary steps to install
law and order following the spread of looting and damage in Iraqi cities.
5. Congratulations to Iraqi people on their freedom. Coalition forces are
here to help you. All citizens must live together peacefully in this new
era.
6. The UK newspaper The Observer reported that top level officials in the
USA have said that action will be taken against Syria in the future,
owing to it harbouring terrorism.
7. Call to Iraqi people to protect public property.
8. Song
9. A US marine said on Sunday that the US forces found barrels containing
chemical weapons.
10. Call to Iraqi people to protect public property.
11. Indistinct item on Arab volunteer fighters, some of them Syrians,
detained in Iraq by the coalition forces.
12. Call to the Iraqi people not to fire gunshots in the air to express
happiness.
13. This is the Voice of the Liberation of Iraq
14. US defence secretary said on Sunday that law and order will return to
Iraq gradually.
15. Retired General Jay Garner will go to Iraq: indistinct item.
16. Patriotic song .
17. Call to Iraqi people not to destroy the infrastructure of Iraq.
18. A US military source in Baghdad said today that six members of the US
forces were released from imprisonment .
19. Iranian foreign minister says that all the world is satisfied with
the departure of Saddam.
20. Call to Iraqi people to protect their country.
21. US defence minister says the US marines are helping to return life to
normal in the north of Iraq.
22. Song.
23. Congratulations to the Iraqi people and call not to destroy the
country.
24. US retired General Jay Garner says Iraqis have to rebuild their own
country.
25. Song.
26. Call to Iraqi people.
27. The US forces captured the last stronghold of Arab volunteer fighters
in Baghdad.
28. Call to Iraqi people.
29. Songs.
30. The fall of the last Arab volunteer fighters in Baghdad.
31. The Red Cross says that most hospitals in Baghdad are without
electricity and water. Source: Voice of the Liberation of Iraq, in
Arabic 1930 gmt 14 Apr 03 (via BBCM via DXLD 3-066)
--- Voice of the Mujahidin
"Voice of the Mujahidin" radio highlights remarks by Iran's Khamene'i,
SCIRI leader
A radio station calling itself "Voice of the Mujahidin" [sawt
al-mujahidin] was observed on 720 kHz at 1410 gmt on 17 April.
At 1624 gmt, the radio was observed to identify itself as "Voice of the
Mujahidin, the radio of freedom, the radio of the truth. Our esteemed
listeners everywhere, our programmes come to you on 90.1 MHz FM and on
720 kHz mediumwave."
The radio then carried a patriotic Islamic song. The song said in part:
"Our stones will be from hell and our faith will restore to us our land,
the land of Palestine. The rights will be restored to their owners, the
territory belongs to the sincere."
The radio carried the following four-minute news summary at 1627 gmt:
1. The Islamic revolution in Iran under the leadership of his eminence
Ali Khamene'i, may God preserve him, considers solving the Iraqi people's
problems a humanitarian duty [word indistinct].
2. [word indistinct] the Islamic revolution in Iraq, His Eminence [word
indistinct] Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim issues a statement on the
[word indistinct] Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. He calls for [word
indistinct].
3. The US-British coalition forces clash with a number of Iraqis in north
and southern Iraq. A number of people were killed and injured and
hundreds were arrested.
4. The US (?colonialists) [word indistinct] military base in the suburbs
of Al-Kut city for fear of the Shi'is who call for establishing [word
indistinct] Islamic system in Iraq.
5. Barzan al-Tirkrit, the brother of the tyrant Saddam, as been caught by
the US forces.
6. Losses of the US forces that are occupying Iraq rise to 125 dead and
495 wounded.
7. Baghdad residents demonstrate against the return to work of the Saddam
regime's police.
8. The US forces find a Saddamist detention centre in a Baghdad suburb
housing 25 political prisoners.
9. More Iraqis are returning from the city of [name indistinct] to the
Baghdad capital.
10. The name of al-Zahra [Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad
and wife of his cousin Ali] was given to a hospital in the city of Al-Kut
that was named after the tyrant Saddam.
11. The EU asks the United Nations to play a key role on Iraq.
12. Syrian foreign minister affirms that his country will not allow any
weapons inspection work in Syria.
13. The Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon stress the need for the
evacuation of the occupation forces from Iraq.
14. A Palestinian was martyred by Zionist bullets in Tulkarm [word
indistinct] in the occupied Gaza Strip.
15. [Word indistinct] arrived in Moscow [word indistinct].
The radio then carried a five-minute talk on the popular welcome that
Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, one of the leaders of the Iran-based Supreme
Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SCIRI] received upon his
return to Al-Kut from Iran. The welcome expresses the real feelings of
the Iraqi people. These leaders merge with the people. They do not have
guards and protectors like the tyrants. Iraqi people will oppose the
"hirelings, liars, hypocrites, and traitors." "O people of the two rivers
[Iraq]. Enough bitterness and defeats. Let us not continue to alienate
our rights and with them ourselves. Let us stop being slain and skinned
like sheep and to die unsung and unlamented." It also said: "Today is
your day. Let us enhance our determination and raise our voice and prove
that we exist."
The talk was followed by a patriotic song. Mostly indistinct talks about
the Iraqi situation were also aired.
The Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI, which is
led by Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, operated a radio station called Voice of
the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Arabic: sawt al-thawrah al-islamiyah fi
al-iraq), which was observed intermittently in the 1980s and 1990s on
frequencies used by the Iranian radio's Arabic service. This radio has
not been observed by BBC Monitoring in recent years.
The SCIRI web site [http://www.majlesaala.com] on 17 April carried a
number of news reports that were almost identical to the above news
items.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 17 Apr 03 (BBCM Apr 17, 2003 via DXLD)
VOICE OF THE MUJAHIDIN PICTURE BULLETIN 1530 GMT 17 APRIL 2003
A radio station calling itself "Voice of the Mujahidin" [sawt
al-mujahidin] was observed by BBC Monitoring on 720 kHz at 1410 gmt on 17
April. The station's programming suggests it is affiliated with the
Tehran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI.
The frequency 720 kHz is one of several used by Islamic Republic of Iran
Broadcasting IRIB for external broadcasts.
1. Religious song.
2. Female presenter: In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
and from whom we seek assistance. She greets listeners and identify the
radio station as "idha'at sawt al-mujahidin": Voice of the Mujahidin, and
starts reading news in brief:
a. Formation of popular committee made up of equal proportions of Kurds,
Arabs and Turkomans to administer Kirkuk.
b. Three US soldiers killed while searching ammunition depot in southern
Baghdad.
c. Kirkuk oil wells will resume production in two weeks under American
supervision.
d. US Forces Central Command denies recruiting any Iraqi as governor or
administrative official in Iraq.
e. Iraqi citizens find 25 political prisoners in northern Baghdad. f. UAE
Al-Bayan newspaper says Iraq will be divided by the Americans into five
security regions.
g. American press leaks news saying Iraq military governor Gen Garner
will recruit 30 Iraqis as advisers.
h. British newspaper The Independent asks Bush 27 questions
including: where are the weapons of mass destruction, where is Saddam and
where is the liberation of Iraq.
i. US forces says they reduced their planes in Iraq and will increase
ground forces.
j. Oil industry workers in northern Basra return to their jobs.
k. WHO delegation arrives in Iraq to evaluate Iraqi hospitals medical
needs.
l. Ahmad Chalabi says Americans will remain in Iraq for at least two
years.
m. Forces of Iraqi National Congress arrive in Baghdad.
n. Reports from Kurdistan Democratic Party say Al-Barzani aims to
rule Iraq.
o. US forces say they found Iraqi Scud missiles in residential areas.
p. Zionist Rabbis ask the Jewish soldiers to pray in western Euphrates as
it is part of the sacred land.
3. Programme on Afghanistan. The programme speaks on the Afghans'
resistance to US forces' presence in Afghanistan. It adds that time
limits set by the Americans to develop Afghanistan have failed.
[Reception becomes worthless].
4. Interview with member of Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in
Iraq, Ibrahim Hamudi, on freedom after Saddam and the American presence.
5. Holy Koran.
6. Female presenter announces that it is time for sunset prayers and
presents call for prayers.
"Voice of the Mujahidin" radio highlights remarks by Iran's Khamene'i,
SCIRI leader
At 1624 gmt, the radio was observed to identify itself as "Voice of the
Mujahidin, the radio of freedom, the radio of the truth. Our esteemed
listeners everywhere, our programmes come to you on 90.1 MHz FM and on
720 kHz mediumwave." The radio then carried a patriotic Islamic song. The
song said in part: "Our stones will be from hell and our faith will
restore to us our land, the land of Palestine. The rights will be
restored to their owners, the territory belongs to the sincere."
The radio carried the following four-minute news summary at 1627 gmt: 1.
The Islamic revolution in Iran under the leadership of his eminence Ali
Khamene'i, may God preserve him, considers solving the Iraqi people's
problems a humanitarian duty [word indistinct].
2. [word indistinct] the Islamic revolution in Iraq, His Eminence [word
indistinct] Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim issues a statement on the
[word indistinct] Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. He calls for [word
indistinct].
3. The US-British coalition forces clash with a number of Iraqis in north
and southern Iraq. A number of people were killed and injured and
hundreds were arrested.
4. The US (?colonialists) [word indistinct] military base in the suburbs
of Al-Kut city for fear of the Shi'is who call for establishing [word
indistinct] Islamic system in Iraq.
5. Barzan al-Tirkrit, the brother of the tyrant Saddam, as been caught by
the US forces.
6. Losses of the US forces that are occupying Iraq rise to 125 dead and
495 wounded.
7. Baghdad residents demonstrate against the return to work of the Saddam
regime's police.
8. The US forces find a Saddamist detention centre in a Baghdad suburb
housing 25 political prisoners.
9. More Iraqis are returning from the city of [name indistinct] to the
Baghdad capital.
10. The name of al-Zahra [Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad
and wife of his cousin Ali] was given to a hospital in the city of Al-Kut
that was named after the tyrant Saddam.
11. The EU asks the United Nations to play a key role on Iraq.
12. Syrian foreign minister affirms that his country will not allow any
weapons inspection work in Syria.
13. The Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon stress the need for the
evacuation of the occupation forces from Iraq.
14. A Palestinian was martyred by Zionist bullets in Tulkarm [word
indistinct] in the occupied Gaza Strip.
15. [Word indistinct] arrived in Moscow [word indistinct].
The radio then carried a five-minute talk on the popular welcome that
Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, one of the leaders of the Iran-based Supreme
Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SCIRI] received upon his
return to Al-Kut from Iran. The welcome expresses the real feelings of
the Iraqi people. These leaders merge with the people. They do not have
guards and protectors like the tyrants. Iraqi people will oppose the
"hirelings, liars, hypocrites, and traitors." "O people of the two rivers
[Iraq]. Enough bitterness and defeats. Let us not continue to alienate
our rights and with them ourselves. Let us stop being slain and skinned
like sheep and to die unsung and unlamented." It also said: "Today is
your day. Let us enhance our determination and raise our voice and prove
that we exist."
The talk was followed by a patriotic song. Mostly indistinct talks about
the Iraqi situation were also aired.
The Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI, which is
led by Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, operated a radio station called Voice of
the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Arabic: sawt al-thawrah al-islamiyah fi
al-iraq), which was observed intermittently in the 1980s and 1990s on
frequencies used by the Iranian radio's Arabic service. This radio has
not been observed by BBC Monitoring in recent years. The SCIRI web site
http://www.majlesaala.com on 17 April carried a number of news reports
that were almost identical to the above news items.
(BBCM Apr 17, 2003 via DXLD)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Feedback xxxxxxxxxx----------------------
Very interesting, thank you for the resource. I have been watching media
developments during the present "war" with the help of your site and
Radio Netherlands. I had noticed, somewhere, a reference to Information
Radio being broadcast from British warships.
"RADIO FREE IRAQ" FROM HMS CHATHAM
By chance I came across this brief reference and picture on HMS Chatham's
website. In case you guys have missed it here is the link
http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/static/pages/content.php3?page=5034
(C.Evans-G Apr 17, 2003 for CRW)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx----------------------
Thanks to the following contributors : Andy Sennit, Anker Petersen, Chris
Evans, Jill Dybka, Tarek Zeidan, Wolfgang .von Pöllnitz
Source Abbreviations:
A-DX : A-DX-mailing list-Austria
BBCM : BBC Monitoring-UK
BCDX : Broadcast DX-Germany
CDX : Cumbre DX-USA
ConDig : Conexion Digital-Argentina
CRW : Clandestine Radio Watch-Germany
DXLD : DX Listening Digest-USA
DXW : DX Window-Denmark
HCDX : Hard-Core-DX-mailing list-USA
JAP : Japan Premium-Japan
OBS : Observer-Bulgaria
PDX : Play DX-Italy
QIP : QSL Information Pages-Germany
TDP : Transmitter Documentation Project
BBCM items are Copyright BBCM 2003.
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