Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• UN warns Iraq of 'chaos' if no political progress
• Saddam deputy praises jihadist 'heroes' in unverified message
• Iraq headed for chaos unless politicians unite, U.N. says
• Fugitive Saddam deputy calls for Baghdad liberation
• Afghan rivals clinch deal, easing political crisis
• Main Iraqi Sunni bloc chooses Jabouri as nominee for parliament speaker: lawmaker
• Gunmen kill 25 women in Baghdad compound raid: police
• Rick Perry slams Rand Paul: Let the 2016 GOP presidential race begin
• His agenda in gridlock, Obama relishes roadshow
• South African salvage master to refloat Costa Concordia
• UN warns of 'chaos' as Iraq forces beat back assault
• Merkel blasts U.S. spying, hopes Washington will change tack
• Kerry meeting again with Afghan candidates
• Iraq sending 4,000 volunteers to help in Ramadi
• Iraq forces executed 255 prisoners in revenge for Islamic State killings: HRW
• Iraq must make progress on govt or face 'chaos': UN
• U.N. Iraq envoy warns of 'chaos' without progress to form government
• Senate candidate records GOP address, then deploys
• Top Asian News at 9:30 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 9:00 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 8:30 a.m. GMT
• Philippines arrests Australian over ties to militant group ISIL
• Top Asian News at 8:00 a.m. GMT
• Obama relishes roadshow, but agenda still stuck
• Top Asian News at 7:30 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 7:00 a.m. GMT
• Anxiety grips Lebanon following blasts, arrests
• Top Asian News at 6:30 a.m. GMT
• Iraqi Kurds take over 2 northern oil fields
• Top Asian News at 6:00 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 5:30 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 5:00 a.m. GMT
• THE WORST PRESIDENT?
• Top Asian News at 4:30 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 4:00 a.m. GMT
• Today in History
• Top Asian News at 3:30 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 3:00 a.m. GMT
• Top Asian News at 2:30 a.m. GMT
• UN expected to vote Monday to speed aid to Syria

UN warns Iraq of 'chaos' if no political progress Posted: 12 Jul 2014 04:38 PM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.N. urged Iraq's leaders Saturday to overcome their deep divisions and move quickly to form a new government that can unite the country and confront a surging militant threat, warning that failure to do so "risks plunging the country into chaos."

Saddam deputy praises jihadist 'heroes' in unverified message Posted: 12 Jul 2014 04:17 PM PDT The wanted deputy of executed dictator Saddam Hussein praised the Islamic State jihadists who took over large swathes of the country last month as heroes in an unauthenticated audio message released on Saturday. The recording features a 15-minute speech in a raspy, quavering voice purported to be that of 72-year-old Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, who was Iraq's vice-president when US-led coalition forces invaded in 2003. The voice in the recording, which AFP could not immediately confirm to be that of Duri, praised "some groups of (insurgents) Ansar al-Sunna and, in addition to these, the heroes and knights of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State." The Islamic State (IS) has been fighting in Syria and Iraq and on June 29 proclaimed a "caliphate" straddling both countries and headed by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who now calls himself Caliph Ibrahim.

Iraq headed for chaos unless politicians unite, U.N. says Posted: 12 Jul 2014 04:08 PM PDT By Ahmed Rasheed and Maggie Fick BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi soldiers backed by Shi'ite militias fought Sunni rebels for control of a military base northeast of Baghdad on Saturday as a U.N. envoy warned of chaos if divided lawmakers did not make progress on Sunday towards naming a government. Forces loyal to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched an early morning push to repel Islamic State militants who fought their way on Thursday into a military base on the edge of Muqdadiya, 80 km (50 miles) northeast of the capital.

Fugitive Saddam deputy calls for Baghdad liberation Posted: 12 Jul 2014 03:21 PM PDT A purported audio message from a close aide to late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein called on all Iraqis to join efforts to "liberate" the country and praised Sunni militants who led last month's dramatic offensive through northern Iraq. The voice recording released on a website loyal to Saddam's ousted Baath Party was said to have been made by Ezzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most senior member of his entourage still at large following Saddam's 2003 overthrow by a U.S.-led invasion force. Although elderly and reported to have been in poor health, Douri is believed to lead the Baathist militant group the Naqshbandi Army, one of several groups which supported the al Qaeda offshoot the Islamic State in its lightning assault through Sunni provinces of north and west Iraq last month.

Afghan rivals clinch deal, easing political crisis Posted: 12 Jul 2014 02:32 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan's two rival candidates reached a breakthrough agreement Saturday to a complete audit of their contested presidential election and, whoever the victor, a national unity government.

Main Iraqi Sunni bloc chooses Jabouri as nominee for parliament speaker: lawmaker Posted: 12 Jul 2014 02:31 PM PDT Iraq's main Sunni political coalition chose lawmaker Salim al-Jabouri on Saturday night as its nominee for parliament speaker, a senior Sunni politician said. "We have agreed on Salim Jabouri for the post of parliament speaker," said lamwaker Dhafer Al-Ani, a leading member of the new Sunni political coalition, called the Patriotic Alliance, which includes the major Sunni groups in parliament. Jabouri is a moderate Sunni Islamist. The appointment of the speaker in Sunday's parliament session would be the first step towards naming a government more than three months after national elections, as Baghdad tries to tackle a Sunni insurgency that has seized large sections of northern and western Iraq.

Gunmen kill 25 women in Baghdad compound raid: police Posted: 12 Jul 2014 01:05 PM PDT Gunmen killed 25 women and wounded at least eight people Saturday when they stormed two buildings in a residential Baghdad compound reputedly used for prostitution, police and government sources said. "Twenty-five women were killed and eight people wounded, among them four men, when gunmen stormed two buildings in a residential compound in Zayouna in east Baghdad," an interior ministry official told AFP. A senior police officer, who said the attackers used silenced weapons, gave the same death toll but reported 11 wounded. "Unidentified gunmen stormed building number 43 in Zayouna, killing 10 women and wounding five.

Rick Perry slams Rand Paul: Let the 2016 GOP presidential race begin Posted: 12 Jul 2014 12:12 PM PDT Texas Gov. Rick Perry stumbled and eventually fell along the wayside among Republican presidential candidates two years ago. Since then, he's been considering another run for the White House, weighing in on important issues, as he did this week in meeting with President Obama about those thousands of Central Americans – many of them children – streaming into the United States, crowding into detention facilities, and raising more questions about this country's failed immigration policy. Also this week, Gov. Perry laid out some of his ideas about US foreign and national security policy while taking on Rand Paul, the leader among 2016 GOP presidential hopefuls and an outlier among Republicans in how the US deals with the rest of the world. "Unfortunately, we live in a world where isolationist policies would only endanger our national security even further."

His agenda in gridlock, Obama relishes roadshow Posted: 12 Jul 2014 10:35 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Welcome to Barack Obama's split-screen presidency.

South African salvage master to refloat Costa Concordia Posted: 12 Jul 2014 10:22 AM PDT After rescuing a burning ship from pirate-infested waters off Yemen and a sinking oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, South African salvage master Nick Sloane faces his biggest test yet off an idyllic Mediterranean island. The 52-year-old says the attempt to float the Costa Concordia cruise ship, due to begin on Monday, is his "most challenging" yet in a career that has taken him to six continents and two warzones. He has led an international operation with hundreds of salvage workers including divers, welders and engineers operating 24 hours a day around the rusting 290-metre (951-foot) hulk, which is bigger than the Titanic. "By the end of July, the Costa Concordia is gone from Giglio," Sloane said in one of his video updates for the operation's website -- theparbucklingproject.com.

UN warns of 'chaos' as Iraq forces beat back assault Posted: 12 Jul 2014 09:27 AM PDT The UN warned Saturday that Iraq's deeply-divided politicians must quickly form a government or risk descent into "chaos", as security forces beat back one militant assault but lost ground elsewhere. Iraqi MPs are to hold a parliament session Sunday aimed at reviving flagging efforts to form a government in the face of a jihadist-led militant offensive, which has overrun large areas of five provinces since it began on June 9.

Merkel blasts U.S. spying, hopes Washington will change tack Posted: 12 Jul 2014 07:52 AM PDT By Alexandra Hudson BERLIN (Reuters) - Angela Merkel said on Saturday that new allegations of U.S. spying showed Berlin and Washington were completely at odds over how they viewed the role of intelligence, and she hoped German action would persuade the United States not to spy on partners. Her comments to German broadcaster ZDF come two days after her government told the CIA station chief in Berlin to leave the country, in a dramatic display of anger after German officials unearthed two suspected spies. On Friday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters "when differences arise, we're committed to resolving those differences through the established private channels... we don't believe that trying to resolve them through the media is appropriate." The scandal has chilled relations with Washington to levels not seen since Merkel's predecessor opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Kerry meeting again with Afghan candidates Posted: 12 Jul 2014 07:35 AM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was engaged Saturday in a difficult round of shuttle diplomacy between Afghanistan's rival presidential candidates, hoping to secure a path out of the country's postelection crisis.

Iraq sending 4,000 volunteers to help in Ramadi Posted: 12 Jul 2014 07:20 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq is airlifting some 4,000 volunteers to an embattled city west of Baghdad to help bolster government forces locked in a running battle with Sunni militants there, authorities said Saturday.

Iraq forces executed 255 prisoners in revenge for Islamic State killings: HRW Posted: 12 Jul 2014 06:31 AM PDT Iraqi security forces and government affiliated militias appear to have unlawfully executed at least 255 prisoners over the past month in apparent revenge for killings by Islamic State fighters, according to a rights group on Saturday. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the killings had taken place in six Iraqi towns and villages since June 9 and at least eight of the dead were boys under 18. In all but one case, the killings took place while the Iraqi forces were fleeing from Islamic State militants and other armed groups, it said on its website. The vast majority of security forces and militias are Shi'ite, while the murdered prisoners were Sunni, it added.

Iraq must make progress on govt or face 'chaos': UN Posted: 12 Jul 2014 06:24 AM PDT Iraqi politicians must move forward on forming a government or risk the country descending into "chaos", the UN's envoy said on Saturday, a day before lawmakers were scheduled to meet. Nickolay Mladenov said Iraq's bickering MPs would have only themselves to blame if they failed to make progress, after a previous attempt to appoint a speaker ended in abject failure. World powers and Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani have appealed for lawmakers to put aside their seemingly intractable differences and form a united front against a jihadist-led onslaught that has overrun swathes of the country.

U.N. Iraq envoy warns of 'chaos' without progress to form government Posted: 12 Jul 2014 03:58 AM PDT The U.N. special envoy to Iraq said on Saturday the country could plunge into chaos if its divided parliament fails to move forward on forming a government in its next session set for Sunday. Nickolay Mladenov called on all lawmakers to attend the session. Lack of progress on choosing the top three government posts - president, prime minister, and speaker - "will only serve the interests of those who seek to divide the people of Iraq and destroy their chances for peace and prosperity," he said in a statement.

Senate candidate records GOP address, then deploys Posted: 12 Jul 2014 03:07 AM PDT DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new item on Lt. Col. Joni Ernst's checklist as she packed up for two weeks of annual training with the Iowa National Guard: denounce the health care law in the weekly Republican radio address.

Top Asian News at 9:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Jul 2014 02:32 AM PDT GAUHATI, India (AP) — A crude bomb exploded Saturday in India's troubled northeast, wounding at least six passersby, and authorities searched for four Muslim traders believed to be abducted by a rebel group in the region. The improvised device went off near the Manipur University complex in Imphal, the capital of Manipur state.

Top Asian News at 9:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Jul 2014 02:02 AM PDT GAUHATI, India (AP) — A crude bomb exploded Saturday in India's troubled northeast, wounding at least six passersby, and authorities searched for four Muslim traders believed to be abducted by a rebel group in the region. The improvised device went off near the Manipur University complex in Imphal, the capital of Manipur state.

Top Asian News at 8:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Jul 2014 01:33 AM PDT GAUHATI, India (AP) — Police say a crude bomb has exploded in India's troubled northeast, wounding at least six passersby. The improvised device went off near the Manipur University complex on Saturday in Imphal, the capital of Manipur state.

Philippines arrests Australian over ties to militant group ISIL Posted: 12 Jul 2014 01:03 AM PDT The Philippines on Friday arrested an Australian national with suspected links to foreign Islamist militants after he urged Philippine Muslims on social media sites to support conflicts in Iraq and Syria, recruiting them to go to the Middle East. The arrest is the first known link between Islamist militants in the Southeast Asian nation and foreign jihadists supporting conflicts in the Middle East. The Australian government believes at least 150 of its citizens are involved in fighting or actively supporting the Islamic State (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq.

Top Asian News at 8:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Jul 2014 01:02 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday hailed as "historic" a Japanese government decision to loosen restrictions on its military. Hagel said once Japan's parliament passes implementing legislation, the Asian nation will be able to contribute more to regional security and expand its role on the world stage.

Obama relishes roadshow, but agenda still stuck Posted: 12 Jul 2014 12:39 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Welcome to Barack Obama's split-screen presidency.

Top Asian News at 7:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Jul 2014 12:32 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday hailed as "historic" a Japanese government decision to loosen restrictions on its military. Hagel said once Japan's parliament passes implementing legislation, the Asian nation will be able to contribute more to regional security and expand its role on the world stage.

Top Asian News at 7:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 12 Jul 2014 12:02 AM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with rival Afghan presidential candidates for a second day as the United States struggles to find a path out of the crisis enveloping the nation's elections. The prolonged uncertainty about the outcome of a runoff has jeopardized a central part of President Barack Obama's strategy to leave behind a stable state after the withdrawal of most U.S. troops at year's end.

Anxiety grips Lebanon following blasts, arrests Posted: 12 Jul 2014 12:01 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The roadblocks and sandbags are back, cafes and hotels are nearly empty and many of the tourists are gone.

Top Asian News at 6:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 11:32 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with rival Afghan presidential candidates for a second day as the United States struggles to find a path out of the crisis enveloping the nation's elections. The prolonged uncertainty about the outcome of a runoff has jeopardized a central part of President Barack Obama's strategy to leave behind a stable state after the withdrawal of most U.S. troops at year's end.

Iraqi Kurds take over 2 northern oil fields Posted: 11 Jul 2014 11:24 PM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Kurdish security forces took over two major oil fields outside the disputed northern city of Kirkuk before dawn Friday and said they would use some of the production for domestic purposes, further widening a split with the central government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Top Asian News at 6:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 11:02 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with rival Afghan presidential candidates for a second day as the United States struggles to find a path out of the crisis enveloping the nation's elections. The prolonged uncertainty about the outcome of a runoff has jeopardized a central part of President Barack Obama's strategy to leave behind a stable state after the withdrawal of most U.S. troops at year's end.

Top Asian News at 5:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 10:32 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with rival Afghan presidential candidates for a second day as the United States struggles to find a path out of the crisis enveloping the nation's elections. The prolonged uncertainty about the outcome of a runoff has jeopardized a central part of President Barack Obama's strategy to leave behind a stable state after the withdrawal of most U.S. troops at year's end.

Top Asian News at 5:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 10:02 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with rival Afghan presidential candidates for a second day as the United States struggles to find a path out of the crisis enveloping the nation's elections. The prolonged uncertainty about the outcome of a runoff has jeopardized a central part of President Barack Obama's strategy to leave behind a stable state after the withdrawal of most U.S. troops at year's end.

THE WORST PRESIDENT? Posted: 11 Jul 2014 10:00 PM PDT A reputable poll shows that the public believes Barack Obama is the worst president since World War II. Worse than Richard M. Nixon, driven from the presidency by Watergate? Obama is in trouble, no matter how carefully you peel through the Quinnipiac University poll that is causing such a firestorm.

Top Asian News at 4:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 09:32 PM PDT KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with rival Afghan presidential candidates for a second day as the United States struggles to find a path out of the crisis enveloping the nation's elections. The prolonged uncertainty about the outcome of a runoff has jeopardized a central part of President Barack Obama's strategy to leave behind a stable state after the withdrawal of most U.S. troops at year's end.

Top Asian News at 4:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 09:02 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday hailed as "historic" a Japanese government decision to loosen restrictions on its military. Hagel said once Japan's parliament passes implementing legislation, the Asian nation will be able to contribute more to regional security and expand its role on the world stage.

Today in History Posted: 11 Jul 2014 09:00 PM PDT Today is Saturday, July 12, the 193rd day of 2014. There are 172 days left in the year.

Top Asian News at 3:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 08:32 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday hailed as "historic" a Japanese government decision to loosen restrictions on its military. Hagel said once Japan's parliament passes implementing legislation, the Asian nation will be able to contribute more to regional security and expand its role on the world stage.

Top Asian News at 3:00 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 08:02 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday hailed as "historic" a Japanese government decision to loosen restrictions on its military. Hagel said once Japan's parliament passes implementing legislation, the Asian nation will be able to contribute more to regional security and expand its role on the world stage.

Top Asian News at 2:30 a.m. GMT Posted: 11 Jul 2014 07:32 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday hailed as "historic" a Japanese government decision to loosen restrictions on its military. Hagel said once Japan's parliament passes implementing legislation, the Asian nation will be able to contribute more to regional security and expand its role on the world stage.

UN expected to vote Monday to speed aid to Syria Posted: 11 Jul 2014 07:24 PM PDT UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Sponsors of a U.N. resolution that would authorize cross-border delivery of humanitarian aid to Syrians in desperate need of food and medicine finalized the text ahead of a Security Council vote expected on Monday.

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