MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, APRIL 5-8, 2003

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000859

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/PDA (MBUCKLEY); WHA/CEN, PD TASK FORCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV IZ HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, APRIL 5-8, 2003



1. Four dailies, TV and radio continue carrying numerous
photos and reports of the war, taken from international
reports. On Saturday April 5th, four dailies dedicated
special sections to the war.


2. Sample coverage front-page of liberal "Tiempo" has a
special extra 8 pages called "Tiempo Magazine" with a
headline - "16 days of war" - with a chronology of the war in
a two-column capsule. The photos show citizens of Diwaniya,
Iraq watching a U.S. convoy, also a Red Cross car arriving in
Basra to supply one of the local hospitals. The section
includes a half page photo of a British soldier chatting with
an Iraqi child.


3. Liberal daily "La Prensa" had front page headline "airport
controlled" with five inside pages of reports and photos of
the war, on page four appeared Secretary of State Colin
Powell's remarks after he met with President Bush last
Friday, entitled "Powell: exiles will have a very important
role post-war Iraq." Page five: Iraq used "mustard gas"
against Iran troops during the 1980-1988 conflict 1980.


4. Moderate daily "El Heraldo" had ten pages of coverage
including front-page photo showing soldiers taking Baghdad
airport - "Close to take down of Iraqi power-- Baghdad
isolated"


5. Liberal daily "La Tribuna" also had front page coverage
with a headliner "the final assault" with seven inside pages
of coverage-some of the pages show coalition soldiers when
arriving at Baghdad airport with a headline "Iraqi chain of
command is debilitated", "U.S. ready to take Baghdad",
"Possible chemical weapons found in Baghdad", "Victory in
Iraq does not depend on Saddam Hussein's destiny"


6. On Sunday and Monday media had a couple of pages on the
war because leading news was the death of 66 people in a jail
riot in northern Honduras.


7. Even though, there were just a few reports on Iraq, four
dailies carried op-eds during the weekend and Monday. "La
Tribuna" carried piece called -"Balance"; "El Heraldo" - "The
reengineering of United Nations"; Is United Nations
agonizing?" "La Prensa" - "The cost of war"; "Tiempo" - "The
progress of war", reports of these op-ed pieces will follow.

Palmer