News Summary

March 20, 2010 - 01:01:22
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Following is a summary of news reports posted until 04:00 p.m. Baghdad local time Saturday – March 20:

* Politics:

ARBIL - A former Iraqi Kurdistan minister appealed to Spiritual Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to cancel the death sentence handed down against Iranian Kurdish activist Zaynab Jalalian and release her.

BAGHDAD - Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi’s al-Iraqiya bloc came on top in the 31-seat province of Ninewa after 89.25% of the votes there were counted, followed by the Kurdistan Alliance, according to the electoral commission.

BAGHDAD - Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi’s al-Iraqiya bloc came on top in the 14-seat predominantly-Sunni province of al-Anbar after 91.75% of the votes there were counted, according to the electoral commission.

BAGHDAD - The head of the al-Iraqiya bloc Iyad Allawi will visit the Iraqi Kurdistan region soon to meet Jalal Talabani for consultations over the next government lineup, according to a spokesman for the Kurdistan Alliance bloc on Saturday.

* Security:

BAGHDAD - Five civilians were wounded in an improvised explosive device attack in central Baghdad on Saturday, an Iraqi police source said.

* Sports:

BAGHDAD - Iraq will play in the Asia badminton competitions that will be hosted in India during the first half of April, according to the badminton federation secretary general on Saturday.

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