Sunni clerics accuse Shia militia of attacks
(Asharq Al-Awsat) In a worrying indication of sectarianism, the head of the Sunni Scholars Association, Harith al-Dhari, has accused the Badr Brigade, the militia affiliated to the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), of killing imams and preachers of Sunni mosques. He blamed the Badr Brigade and "those who stand behind it" (meaning Iran) for the escalation of tension in the country. This is the first time al-Dhari has openly accused the Badr militia. His organisation have called for Sunni mosques to close for three days in protest at the killings it says the Badr forces are responsible for. A senior official in the Badr brigade, Hadi al-Amiri has denied the accusations. The head of the Sunni Endowment, Adnan al-Dulaimi, has asked the government to safeguard Sunni mosques.
(London-based Asharq al-Awsat, a pro-Saudi independent paper, is issued daily.)

Sunnis want security resignations
(Baghdad) The Sunni Scholars Association has asked for the resignation of the ministers of interior and defence because of the wave of arrests of imams at Sunni mosques. In a statement, the organisation denounced the actions of both ministries, saying it would lead to sectarian conflict, and asked people to denounce this "conspiracy".
(Baghdad is a daily newspaper issued by the Iraqi National Accord.)

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Defence chief insists mosque raids will continue
(Al-Mashriq) Defence minister Sadoon al-Dulaimi has said the army will attack mosques and places of worship if they accommodate terrorists or stockpile weapons. Dulaimi said the army will use any means necessary to safeguard the people of Iraq. He said that in the next few months, the international forces will begin acting as back-up to the Iraqi forces, which will take an increasingly strong lead role, and that the foreign forces will then withdraw as soon as they are asked to do so.
(Al-Mashriq is published daily by Al-Mashriq Institute for Media and Cultural Investments.)

Life imprisonment for insurgent
(Al-Taakhi) On May 9, the central criminal court sentenced Alaa Majeed Hassan to life imprisonment for illegally acquiring weapons and explosives. The accused was driving a rubbish truck when he was stopped by security forces at a checkpoint. After inspecting the truck, they found 700 rockets under the rubbish. Court officials said they head looked at more than 250 cases involving more than 450 suspects.
(Al-Taakhi is issued daily by the Kurdistan Democratic Party.)

Allawi talks to Syria about insurgency
(Azzaman) Outgoing prime minister Ayad Allawi, in talks with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, has emphasised the big role Damascus can play in regional stability. He spoke of the need to maintain a dialogue and keep the two countries' respective embassies open. He also noted that Syria and Iraq have formed committees responsible for seeing that infiltrators are pursued.
(London-based Azzaman is issued daily by Saad al-Bazaz.)

Iraq, Iran agree on common interests
(Al-Mada) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has called for improved relations with Iran. Meeting visiting Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi, Jaafari said Iraq's new foreign policy would be based on openness and common interest. Kharazi said his government was ready to support Iraq both politically and economically.
(Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada Institute for Media, Culture, and Arts.)

New super-region formed
(Al-Ittihad) A spokesman for Karbala provincial council, Ghalib al-Dumy, has announced the creation a Central Iraq Region, the purpose of which is to create a cohesive crossroads between all parts of the country - including links to the Iranian and Saudi borders. The new region encompasses Babylon, Kut, and Karbala provinces (or governorates). The administrative status of these provinces does not change, but one practical shift is the transfer of al-Nukhaib district, which the Baathist regime attached to Anbar province, to Karbala province to provide a route to the Saudi frontier.
(Al-Ittihad is published daily by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.)