News Summary

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Following is a summary of news reports posted until 04:00 p.m. Baghdad local time Friday: . Politics: BAGHDAD – Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Najaf on Friday morning to meet top Shiite Cleric Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, a senior source in the province said. NAJAF – Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki left Najaf on Friday after meeting top Shiite cleric Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, during which he updated him with the latest developments in Iraq , mainly the security agreement with the U.S. , a cabinet’s source said. BAGHDAD – Kurdish Prime Minister Negervan Barzani said that Turkey must engage in dialogue if it wants the assistance of the northern Iraqi administration in its fight against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, Turkish Daily News newspaper said on Friday. Security: KIRKUK – Police forces found two chlorine caches in southwestern Kirkuk , the chief of local police said on Friday. ARBIL – A civilian was injured in a bomb explosion on Friday in southwestern Arbil, an Iraqi army source said. BAGHDAD – A civilian was killed and 10 others were wounded when an improvised explosive device went off in southern Baghdad on Friday, a police source said. NINEWA – Two civilians were killed and 12 others were wounded in two simultaneous explosions in central Mosul on Friday, a police source said. SALAH EL-DIN – Police forces on Friday found 25 tons of cannonballs in west of Samarra city, a security source said. Economy: BAGHDAD – Iraqi Finance Minister Baqer Jabr al-Zubaidi on Friday discussed with former U.S. Secretary of Treasury John Snow the economic relations between the two countries and the economic situation in Iraq , the media official of the finance ministry said. BAGHDAD – United Nations auditors have reported that the total income generated by the escrow account for Iraq made up of funds related to the expired oil-for-food programme have dropped by over one third between 2005-2006. BASRA – Basra authorities have started to study an investment project to set up an integrated marine city in Basra , the province’s governor said on Friday. Variety: BAGHDAD – The number of confirmed cholera cases in Iraq has reached 444 until Friday, the Iraqi health ministry said. SH (S) 1