Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 27, 2003

In Iraq, a U.S. helicopter was shot down around Fallujah by an anti-tank projectile, and its crew members were killed. Also, an American military convoy was attacked with rockets and grenades, resulting in one death and seven injuries, and several of the attackers were arrested. Yesterday, American soldiers were also attacked in Haditha, with a number killed and injured. Usually, the attackers do not announce the exact number of their casualties. The dissolution of the Basra City Council has also caused discontent and tension. In Diyala province as well, demonstrations have been held against the dissolution of the army and so on.
A report has been received regarding the arrest of Massoud Rajavi [= leader of the People's Mujahedin Organization] and a group of the leaders of the Mojahedin, which has not been confirmed. American sources have said that Saddam's children and four former Iraqi leaders went to Pakistan via Iran, and [Pervez] Musharraf, [President of Pakistan], has barred them from leaving; this too has not been confirmed. The Americans say that some gold and currency that were hidden have been discovered.  
Mr. [Alireza] Salari, Iran's ambassador to the UAE, came. He said relations are improving and that they are negotiating with them regarding the sale of gas, and Sheikh Mohammed, the surplus son, after traveling to Iran for hunting, has changed his stance and become a supporter of Iran.  
Mr. [Javad] Maqsudi, [head of the Tehran Friday Prayer Committee], came. He brought the plan to transfer Friday prayers to the Tehran Musalla and asked for help in resolving a problem they have with those in charge of constructing the Musalla.
Mr. Ramadan Abdullah, the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad [Organization], came. He said, [Mahmoud Abbas] Abu Mazen, after accepting the road map plan by [Ariel] Sharon, [Prime Minister of Israel], he is in trouble;  Because he is under pressure to engage with Jihad forces to extinguish the intifada, which is the first step of the plan, and he is worried about the civil war between the Palestinians. He said, it is unlikely that they will deport [Yasser] Arafat, [the head of the Palestinian Authority], because they need him.  He criticized Hamas for anti-Shia propaganda and said that Syria's positions are still good and under the pressure of America, he told Palestinian groups to remove their signs and not pretend to be active.  The photo of [Ms. Hebe Daraghmeh], a 19-year-old girl who carried out a martyrdom operation in [the city of] Afula in the north of Israel, a few days ago.  He consulted about the trip to Egypt to participate in the meeting proposed by Egypt. He said that the number of Palestinian prisoners is about eight thousand people. 
In the evening, Dr. [Abulqasem] Mousavi, the head of medical insurance services, came. He said that now about 96 percent of the people are insured, and there is a budget deficit of 120 billion tomans, which he took a loan from the bank and is trying to repay.  He criticized the government's lack of attention to insurance needs and expects help from me as the founder of insurance development.
In Pakistan, Islamic parties are putting a lot of pressure on [Pervez] Musharraf to resign from his military positions, and he asked for a two-year deadline, but they have given him until August.  In Indonesia, the civil war has intensified in the Aceh region, several explosions have occurred in Jakarta, and today there was a magnitude 4.6 earthquake.  There was a 7-magnitude earthquake in Japan yesterday, and the day before yesterday there was a 7-magnitude earthquake in Kazakhstan, the epicenter of which was mainly outside the cities.  Today we had a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Kazerun. 
In England, it has been announced that 3,000 birth certificates are lost in offices that they think have been stolen by terrorists, and the United States claims that a large number of French birth certificates are in the hands of various people in Iraq.
In a letter to the President, 24 members of the [Sixth] Parliament have criticized the prevention of the Supreme [National] Security Council from publishing the letter of the representatives to the leadership [in the media].