Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani – April 10, 2003

The US defense minister has blamed the Syrian government for sending weapons to Iraq in recent days and also for sheltering some of the heads of the Iraqi government.  The reactions of the political and popular circles regarding the rapid fall of the Baath regime and the happy expression of the Iraqi people are two-fold, and the Iraqi people are surprised that their country was so easily occupied by foreign troops, and they are happy to be saved from the evil of the chronic Baathist dictatorship in Iraq, and the same dual feeling exists among many people of the Muslim and Arab world.

In Baghdad, the sound of shooting can be heard from all corners and it is not clear from whom.  Russia denied the rumors about Saddam [Hussein] taking refuge in the Russian embassy in Baghdad.  The important discussion is the issues related to Iraq's security and reconstruction and the role of factions and individuals.  Insecurity prevails in almost all the cities and the attackers cannot cooperate and have plans for their own protection;  It is not complete, because today several attackers have been killed and injured by the people through suicide or military operations.
One of the important events was the killing of Seyyed Abd al-Majid Khoei in the shrine of Imam Ali (AS) in Najaf, although he was armed and defended himself with his weapon, but a crowd attacked him and killed him with a knife.  The British counted on him a lot;  In order to influence the people and create a division in the clergy, he appeared to be in conflict with the supporters of Ayatollah [Syed Mohammad Sadiq], and he was supposed to have a press interview today.
Today, Kirkuk was occupied by Kurds and invaders.  Turkey had previously announced that if the Kurds enter Kirkuk, Turkish forces will also enter, but today it backed down and said that if the Kurds want to have a permanent presence, Turkey will take action.
Iran protested to the attackers after a missile hit Khosroabad [near Abadan] and the killing of a student.   It is said that a British unmanned aircraft also crashed in Khomein;  It must have suffered a technical defect.  Mr. [Ali] Aghamohammadi, [in charge of the Iraq Committee] said, a number of Iraqi troops have remained intact and Hassan Samarai should use them to maintain order in the service of America.
Today in Afghanistan, the conflict has intensified and killed a lot of people.  The United Nations Security Council convened a meeting for North Korea issues, but it remained fruitless due to disagreements.  The extent of the mysterious Sars disease is more than what has been expressed so far;  Especially in China and Southeast Asia.