KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND HAMAS

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002154 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, NEA/PI, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PREL KDEM PGOV KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEDIA REACTION - IRAQI GOVERNMENT AND HAMAS Block Quotes -------------- Thursday, June 8, 2006 -- Abdul Zahra Al-Rikaby criticized in the progressive Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas under the title "Iraq: Where to?" (6/8): "The government of Nouri Al-Maliki is the third government since the introduction of the foreign presence. Although repeatedly mentioned by American President Bush, the departure date of these troops has not been set. This government will not be any better than its two predecessors were. Its inheritance has deteriorated on all sides and on all levels. In addition, it was established based on sectarian and ethnic quotas. This will block all paths toward any achievement. It must comprehend that the situation in Iraq has reached the point where the Iraqis have no more patience." -- Editor-in-chief of the pro-government Arabic-language daily Al-Seyassah wrote on its front page under the title "An Immediate Referendum to Oust HAMAS" (6/3): "It is absolutely timely and important that the president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas hold a referendum on the 'prisoners' document' so that the world can see whether or not the Palestinian people still support HAMAS. The results of the referendum, no matter what they may be, would also eliminate the state of constant friction between the Authority and the HAMAS government." ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * TUELLER