Ja'afari to Visit Iran
(Addustour) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'afari will pay a visit to Iran next month, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman announced. It will be the first visit of a high ranking Iraqi official to Iran after the formation of the new government, which recently acknowledged responsibility of the former regime for the eight-year war with Iran in the 1980s. Iraqi government spokesman Laith Kubba said having good relations with Iran will help solve problems between the two countries.
(Addustour is an independent daily published by former journalist Basim al-Sheikh.)

Suicide Bombers Kill 27
(Al-Mutamar) Two suicide bombers blew themselves up among crowds in Hillah, located south of Baghdad, killing 27 and wounding 217 people. The first explosion occurred among people gathered at a medical centre where police and army recruits are examined. The second exploded in a group of police protesting to raise their salaries. Within the last month, armed groups have intensified their operations, which has resulted in the deaths of 700 Iraqis since the formation of the new government on April 28.
(Al-Mutamar is issued daily by the Iraqi National Congress.)

Cartoon of the Day

U.S. Troops Arrest Sunni Party Leader
(Baghdad) American troops on Monday arrested and then released Muhsin Abdul Hamid, leader of the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party. Three of his sons were also taken into custoday. Alaa Makki, a member of the party's political bureau, said the Americans have mistreated Hamid and his sons after damaging the windows of their house.
(Baghdad is a daily newspaper issued by the Iraqi National Accord.)

Operation Lightning is Necessary
(Al-Mada) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'afari said Operation Lightning was needed to eliminate the violence that has plagued Iraq. The raids carried out by the Ministry of Interior and Defence were targeting homes where car bombs and other explosive devices were being made. He added that local residents were aiding the insurgents. He also said the Ministry of Interior was developing a plan to control the borders, particularly with Syria.
(Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada Institution for Media, Culture, and Arts.)

Ja'afari Briefs UN Representative
(Al-Adala) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'afari has briefed Ashraf Khadi, representative of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, about the political and security situation in Iraq. Khadi praised the efforts of the government to avoid sectarian conflict. Khadi added that the UN would aid Iraq in enhancing national dialogue with the drafting of the constitution.
(Al-Adala is issued daily by the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.)

Women Trafficking Ring Arrested
(Al-Mashriq) Karbala Police arrested a gang that was trafficking women to Syria. Police Brigadier General Abbas al-Hasani said police arrested seven women in the al-Abbasiya and Bab al-Khan areas who confessed to kidnapping and buying eight women from Karbala and smuggling them to sell in Syria.
(Al-Mashriq is published daily by Al-Mashriq Institution for Media and Cultural Investment.)

Food Items to be Distributed Soon
(Al-Bayan) Some items on food ration cards not given to people in the last months will be distributed soon, according to a Ministry of Trade official. The items were not given out because the ministry did not have enough supplies. The official said the Ministry of Finance's inability to quickly distribute funds to international companies supplying food was hindering the effort.
(Al-Bayan is issued four times a week by the Islamic Dawa Party.)