The new Iraqi press naturally carried extensive coverage of the recent transfer of power in the country from US administration to an Iraqi governing council. Some papers presented views from the Iraqi street, as well.
The Al-Bayan June 30th edition carried an analysis of an opinion poll taken among Iraqis regarding the earlier-than-expected transfer of power. The daily reported that the Iraqi people expressed both happiness and anxiety, adding that many Iraqis consider the hand-over a historical occasion heralding stability and security. Other Iraqis, however, called the sudden transfer of power an act of "masters" to foil terrorist plans.
Al-Bayan further detailed how Iraqis feel about the terrorist attacks now that power is ostensibly in Iraqi hands. Most Iraqis, the paper reported, hoped that all parties and groups would take part in rebuilding the country, and that any further terrorist attacks would not be justified. Some Iraqis, furthermore, think that American and allied forces should not show themselves in the cities.
Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed ("New Morning") said that the transfer of power two days early took all Iraqis by surprise. Questions raised about the reasons behind the transfer were answered by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, the daily reported, when he announced that all measures had been completed for the transfer. However, confirming the feelings of Iraqis as reported in Al-Bayan, sources close to the Iraqi government told Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed that they had information terrorists would attempt to carry out high-profile attacks on the scheduled date of power transfer.
Two days before the actual transfer of power, a newspaper published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Al-Adalah, also predicted an increase of terrorist attacks as the date of independence approached. The newspaper editorialized, however, that the terrorist threats and attacks are not aimed at the liberation of Iraq at all.
Instead, the Islamic Council newspaper said, "what has happened in recent months proves that each Iraqi is a target for remnants of the former regime and other terrorists, and that operations apparently targeting occupation are meant to disguise the main aim." This is evident, the column explained, when reviewing recent victims of terrorist attacks in Iraq - they include mainly innocent Iraqis, infrastructure, policemen, etc. - and when examining the phenomenon of kidnapping. In the latter case, Al-Adalah stated, kidnapped foreigners are either released after paying bribes or killed, but kidnapped Iraqis are killed and mutilated.
The Al-Bayan June 30th edition carried an analysis of an opinion poll taken among Iraqis regarding the earlier-than-expected transfer of power. The daily reported that the Iraqi people expressed both happiness and anxiety, adding that many Iraqis consider the hand-over a historical occasion heralding stability and security. Other Iraqis, however, called the sudden transfer of power an act of "masters" to foil terrorist plans.
Al-Bayan further detailed how Iraqis feel about the terrorist attacks now that power is ostensibly in Iraqi hands. Most Iraqis, the paper reported, hoped that all parties and groups would take part in rebuilding the country, and that any further terrorist attacks would not be justified. Some Iraqis, furthermore, think that American and allied forces should not show themselves in the cities.
Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed ("New Morning") said that the transfer of power two days early took all Iraqis by surprise. Questions raised about the reasons behind the transfer were answered by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, the daily reported, when he announced that all measures had been completed for the transfer. However, confirming the feelings of Iraqis as reported in Al-Bayan, sources close to the Iraqi government told Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed that they had information terrorists would attempt to carry out high-profile attacks on the scheduled date of power transfer.
Two days before the actual transfer of power, a newspaper published by the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Al-Adalah, also predicted an increase of terrorist attacks as the date of independence approached. The newspaper editorialized, however, that the terrorist threats and attacks are not aimed at the liberation of Iraq at all.
Instead, the Islamic Council newspaper said, "what has happened in recent months proves that each Iraqi is a target for remnants of the former regime and other terrorists, and that operations apparently targeting occupation are meant to disguise the main aim." This is evident, the column explained, when reviewing recent victims of terrorist attacks in Iraq - they include mainly innocent Iraqis, infrastructure, policemen, etc. - and when examining the phenomenon of kidnapping. In the latter case, Al-Adalah stated, kidnapped foreigners are either released after paying bribes or killed, but kidnapped Iraqis are killed and mutilated.