Kathleen Ridolfo

Also by Kathleen Ridolfo

• March 02, 2007

  A Controversial Compromise

  After many months of debate, Iraq's cabinet has approved a draft law on developing and sharing energy resources.

• February 21, 2007

  Rape Case Highlights Power Struggle

  Sunni politicians have attacked the Shi'ite-led government over its handling of the alleged rape of a Sunni woman by Shi'ite security forces.

• February 14, 2007

  Fleeing The Violence

  Syria and Jordan have asked for international help in dealing with the growing numbers of Iraqi refugees inside their borders.

• February 12, 2007

  Samarra Bombing Set Off Year Of Violence

  The February 22, 2006, Golden Mosque bombing marked an escalation in sectarian tensions between Iraq's Sunni and Shi'ite Arabs that has yet to subside.

• October 06, 2006

  Iraq: Government Making Progress On Security

  Al-Maliki (left) greets U.S. Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice in Baghdad on October 5 (epa) PRAGUE, October 6, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the signing of a new peace initiative on October 2 amid reports of increased tension among parties in his national unity government. Relations between Sunni and Shi'ite Arab parties have been on a downward spiral for weeks, brought on by increasing distrust on the political front --> http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/9/EF6B9842-9CAB-4D93-A3F8-BED27C398756.html and continued sectarian violence.

• September 29, 2006

  Government, Coalition Look To Stop The Killing

  Sectarian militias and rogue security personnel are still seen as the main security threats in Iraq.

• September 27, 2006

  From The Archive | Turkey eyes Iraqi Kurds with suspicion

  PRAGUE, September 27, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Despite a visit by a Turkish parliamentary delegation to Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region this week, Turkish and Iraqi officials remain strongly divided over how to deal with the issue of Turkish Kurdish rebels from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the state of affairs between Kurds and Iraqi Turkomans living in Kirkuk.

• September 22, 2006

  Iraq: Neighbors Pledge Support On Security, Yet Again

  Much of Iraq's border with Iran and Syria passes through very inhospitable terrain (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, September 22, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The interior ministers of Iraq's neighboring countries pledged at a September 19 conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to help boost security along their borders to prevent terrorist infiltration into Iraq.

• September 19, 2006

  Iraq: Pope's Comments Bring Threats, Condemnation

  Iraqis burn an effigy of the pope during a demonstration in Al-Basrah on September 18 (epa) PRAGUE, September 19, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Iraqi religious leaders were quick to react to reports of statements made by Pope Benedict XVI regarding comments the pope made last week regarding Islam and violence, with many saying the statements threatened to harm Muslim-Christian relations in the country.

• September 15, 2006

  Iraq: Kurdish Region Promoting Investment

  The Kurds want to improve oil infrastructure, such as this refinery in Al-Sulaymaniyah (AFP) PRAGUE, September 15, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Over the past year, the Iraqi Kurdish regional government has taken steps to unify its Al-Sulaymaniyah and Irbil administrations, drafted a constitution for the region, passed an investment law, and drafted a petroleum law, which is expected to be presented to the Kurdish parliament for ratification this month.

• September 14, 2006

  Iraq: Divisive Federalism Debate Continues

  Al-Hakim's SCIRI has been one of the main proponents of federalism (file photo) (epa) PRAGUE, September 14, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Iraqi political leaders have been at loggerheads this week over a proposal by a major Shi'ite party for a draft law detailing the mechanisms for establishing regional governments.

• August 31, 2006

  Infrastructure | Government struggles to boost output

  PRAGUE, August 31, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced to reporters in Baghdad on August 29 that the four-month-long oil crisis has ended. Al-Maliki said the Oil Ministry, under the leadership of minister Husayn al-Shahristani, has taken appropriate steps to contain the crisis.

• August 25, 2006

  Iraq: Security, Political Pressure Affect Media Performance

  (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, August 25, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Increasingly frequent threats from insurgents and fear of government reprisals may be affecting the performance of journalists in Iraq.

• August 24, 2006

  Cleric Challenges Shi'ite Establishment

  A Shi'ite cleric recently challenged the authority of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, sparking riots in the holy city of Karbala.

• August 09, 2006

  Iraq: Kurds Call For More Government Accountability

  (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, August 9, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Demonstrations have broken out across Iraq's Kurdish region in recent days as residents protested what they claimed is rampant corruption and a lack of services provided by the newly formed government of the Kurdistan autonomous region.

• August 02, 2006

  Premier Faces Shi'ite Pressure On Security

  Nuri al-Maliki has come under increasing pressure from Shi'ite leaders who claim he isn't moving fast enough on the deteriorating security situation.

• July 26, 2006

  Learning Lebanon's Lessons

  Ten lessons -- from controlling militias to avoiding sectarian quotas -- that Iraq's leaders should take to heart to avoid repeating Lebanon's bloody past.

• July 21, 2006

  Turkey Threatens Military Incursion

  Turkey has said it was taking steps this week to prepare for a cross-border incursion into northern Iraq to hunt down Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters holed up in the Qandil Mountain range.

• July 19, 2006

  Lebanon Viewed From Iraq

  Baghdad residents told RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq they worry about the Israel-Lebanon conflict spreading. Some compared the decision by Hizballah leader Hasan Nasrallah to Saddam Hussein's dragging Iraq into conflicts with neighboring Iran and Kuwait. Lebanon is now paying for the actions of one man who pursued his own goals without consideration for the country's people or government, they said.

• July 13, 2006

  Middle East: Israel-Lebanon Conflict Threatens Entire Region

  Hizballah Secretary-General Hasan Nasrallah speaking to reporters in Beirut on July 12 (epa) Arab League member states are virtually helpless in confronting the threat of further regional instability. Regional players have little leverage against groups like Hamas and Hizballah. The Palestinian Authority and the Lebanese government are largely in the hands of both groups. Thus international intervention will likely be crucial to calming the situation. The UN announced on July 13 that it would send two envoys to the region immediately, first to Cairo, then Israel, Lebanon, and Syria.

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