Information on the above-mentioned topic could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

The following information was provided during a 25 April 1997 telephone interview with a representative of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), an umbrella organization of opposition groups to the current regime in Baghdad. The INC headquarters is in London, UK, but there is also an office in Iraqi Kurdistan. The INC objective is the establishment of democracy in Iraq. The organization publishes an Arabic-language weekly newspaper called Al-Mutamar.

The source indicated that there was no insurrection by soldiers at Sholaa during the Gulf War. The source added that Sholaa is a neighbourhood of Baghdad located on the important road to Tikrit, the village where Saddam Hussein's family was born, and to Iraqi Kurdistan. Baghdad is surrounded by military barracks of units faithful to the current regime. The military barrack close to Sholaa is called Al-Taji.

The following information was provided during a 25 April 1997 telephone interview with an independent journalist covering Iraq and the Gulf States for the Jane's Intelligence Review. The source has travelled extensively in the Gulf States.

The source was not aware of an insurrection by soldiers at Sholaa during the Gulf War.

The following information was provided during a 25 April 1997 telephone interview with the Iraq researcher for Middle East Watch.

The source was not aware of an insurrection by soldiers at Sholaa during the Gulf War.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Independent journalist, Jane's Intelligence Review, London, England. 25 April 1997. Telephone interview.

Iraqi National Congress (INC), London, England. 25 April 1997. Telephone interview with representative.

Middle East Watch, New York. 25 April 1997. Telephone interview with Iraq researcher.

Additional Sources Consulted

Arabies [Paris]. January 1989 - 1997. Monthly.

Arabia Monitor [Washington]. November 1992 - August 1993. Monthly.

Arab Studies Quarterly [Lake Forest, Ill.]. 1995 - 1997 . Quarterly.

Dialogue [London]. October 1993 - 1997. monthly.

Global Newsbank database.

Gulf Newsletter [London]. February 1992 - December 1994. Three per year.

The Jerusalem Report [Jerusalem]. October 1992 - 1997. Bi-weekly.

Lebanon Report [Beirut]. November 1992 - 1997. Monthly.

The Middle East [London]. November 1988 - 1997. Monthly.

Middle East Focus [North York, Ont.]. 1983 - 1992. Quarterly.

Middle East International [London]. January 1991 - 1997. Bi-weekly.

Mideast Mirror [London]. 1989-1995. (Search from Lexis-Nexis Database)

Middle East Report [Washington]. September 1990 - 1997. Bi-monthly.

Monde Arabe Maghreb-Machrek [Paris]. January 1989 - 1997. Quarterly.

News From Middle East Watch [New York].

On-line search of the database Lexis-Nexis.