Within its morning newscasts on 23 July, Dubai Al-Sharqiyah Television in Arabic reports on statements by an unidentified member of the United Iraqi Alliance, UIA, on the "tactical divide" among UIA members, an "extraordinary" session of the Kurdistan Region Parliament, and statements made by the Iraqi premier on the ongoing US-Iraqi negotiations in Berlin today. The channel also highlights a number of security developments in Iraq.

Within its 0700 gmt newscast, the channel carries the following report:

- "A UIA source who preferred to remain anonymous said that a tactical divide occurred within the UIA when prominent members withdrew and did not vote on the Provincial Councils Elections Law while essential members - like the Badr Organization, the independent, the Da'wah, and the Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council - remained at the session and voted. The same source said that a new turning point in Iraqi political life was reached yesterday when the friction between the Kurdistan Alliance and the United Iraqi Alliance entered a bumpy and dangerous zone that might drastically change the direction of their close alliance that has been evident in the Iraqi arena during the past five years. He stressed that a barrier had been broken."

Within its 0800 gmt newscast, the channel carries the following report:

- "The Kurdistan Region Parliament and the Region's Presidency are holding an extraordinary session today to discuss the Provincial Councils Elections Law endorsed by the Iraqi Parliament yesterday. The meeting comes after the Presidency's commission described the endorsement of the Law as an alteration to the Constitution. The Presidency said that it is not committed to the consequences of the implementation of the law. The Kurdistan Presidency chief said that Kurdistan President Mas'ud Barzani will visit Baghdad soon to discuss the joint security agreement between Iraq and the United States and the developments pertaining to the Kirkuk issue."

Within its 0900 gmt newscast, the channel carries the following reports:

- "Iraqi security sources noted that around 30,000 police and army elements are preparing to carry out operations at the beginning of August against the Al-Qa'idah Organization in the chaotic Diyala Governorate, northeast Baghdad. A senior Iraqi Army officer said that around 30,000 police and army elements will be deployed in the governorate."

- "The authorities in the Al-Haswah and Al-Iskandariyah Subdistricts of northern Babil in central Iraq imposed a two-day curfew. A military source justified the procedure by launching a security operation codenamed Operation Leap of the Knights, which aims at hunting down gunmen and outlaws, collecting weapons, and eradicating cells of terrorism."

- "Dozens of the tribesmen in Karbala staged a demonstration to protest the abduction of a tribesman by the Karbala Provincial Council chief, as they said. Al-Ardawiyyin Tribe Chief Sattar al- Ardawi said that the demonstrations against the head of the Karbala Provincial Council were staged against the background of the abduction of a young man called Nabil Adil al-Ardawi and his torture because of an instruction to confiscate a car seized by the head of the Council after an order was issued by the Karbala Court. The young man called on the Council chief to return the car according to the Court's memorandum. The Council chief refused to do so, arranged for the abduction operation, and has not issued any clarification on these accusations."

Within its 1000 gmt newscast, the channel carries the following report:

"Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that the negotiations with the US side on the long-term agreement are still going on and have reached an advanced stage. In a press conference held in Berlin today, he added that the talks between Iraq and the United States are currently going on to sign a security agreement and that negotiations are going on to stop the implementation of Chapter VII of the UN Charter on Iraq."

Originally published by Al-Sharqiyah TV, Dubai, in Arabic 0700-1000 23 Jul 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Middle East. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Story Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East