Iraq

SRSG Ashraf Qazi

UN against death penalty but understands desire for justice in Hussein case – envoy

30 December 2006
Reacting to the imposition of the death sentence against Saddam Hussein, who ruled Iraq with terror for nearly a quarter of a century until his ouster in 2003, the senior United Nations envoy there voiced understanding about the desire for justice among many people but reiterated the world body's longstanding opposition to capital punishment.

Security for Palestinians in Baghdad worsens as Shiite militia take over homes – UN

27 December 2006
Security for predominantly Sunni Palestinians in Baghdad has deteriorated over the past week amid increasing fears of attack as members of the Mahdi army Shiite militia are reported to be taking over apartments in a mainly Shia area, the United Nations refugee agency said today.

UN releases rules on Oil-for-Food inquiry documents to help States still investigating

22 December 2006
To facilitate continuing investigations by Member States into the findings of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) that examined the scandal-ridden Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme, the United Nations today released rules regarding the management, preservation and use of the myriad documents and files produced by the Committee.
SRSG Ashraf Qazi

Iraq: UN envoy calls for unity in face of bombings, kidnappings, ‘indiscriminate terror’

18 December 2006
The top United Nations envoy to Iraq today called on all Iraqis to unite in the face of the recent surge of violence, voicing dismay at last week’s car-bombing in Baghdad in which scores of innocent people were killed or injured, and yesterday’s kidnapping of dozens of people from an Iraqi Red Crescent office.

Security Council reiterates concern over issue of Kuwaitis missing since 1990 war

13 December 2006
Welcoming the recent progress on identifying and recovering the remains of Kuwaitis and other nationals missing since the 1990 Gulf War, the Security Council today expressed concern over the fate of nearly 400 others whose whereabouts remain unknown.
SRSG Ashraf Qazi

As ‘major catastrophe’ looms over Iraq, UN envoy urges regional approach to peace

11 December 2006
With Iraq at the brink of civil war, some 5,000 people dying each month and a major humanitarian catastrophe looming, the senior United Nations envoy to the country today said the region and the international community must come together in support of a solution.

Secretary-General laments slow progress on issue of Kuwaitis missing since 1990 Iraq war

11 December 2006
While acknowledging the security obstacles in war-ravaged Iraq that are stalling progress on recovering the remains of Kuwaiti and other nationals missing since the country’s 1990 war, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has voiced hope that the issue can soon be brought to a satisfactory close.

Prospects of all-out civil war in Iraq much more real than three months ago, Annan warns

8 December 2006
The prospects of all-out civil war in Iraq and even a regional conflict have become much more real over the past three months as sectarian violence, insurgent and terrorist attacks, and criminal activities have risen significantly, according to the latest United Nations report on the war-torn country released today.

Half Iraq’s ‘Garden of Eden’ marshes begin to recover, thanks to UN-backed plan

7 December 2006
Fifteen years after nearly being annihilated by Saddam Hussein, almost half of Iraq’s fabled marshlands of Mesopotamia, considered by some to be the original Garden of Eden, have regained their 1970s extent, thanks to a multi-million dollar programme managed by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
UNESCO head Koïchiro Matsuura

UNESCO chief pays tribute to Iraqi journalists after murder of two more media workers

4 December 2006
Following the murder of yet two more Iraqi media workers, the head of the United Nations body mandated to protect freedom of expression today paid tribute to the courage of journalists willing to face such dangers in the war-torn country.