NYT/Reuters: Sandstorm Forces Delay in Iraq Constitution Talks

[DeepModem Mom]

Sandstorm Forces Delay in Iraq Constitution Talks
By REUTERS
Published: August 8, 2005
Filed at 1:14 p.m. ET


Liu Jin/AFP -- Getty Images
Sandstorm Delays Iraqi Talks
A heavy sandstorm engulfed a U.S. base, above, and also Baghdad, where it prevented Iraqi leaders from meeting about the deadlock over the constitution.


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A sandstorm forced Iraqi leaders on Monday to delay talks aimed at breaking deadlock over drafting the constitution to meet an Aug. 15 deadline for the document they hope will help defuse a raging insurgency.

A second day of unrest in the southern Shi'ite city of Samawa added to the pressure on the government.

Locals said the provincial council voted out the governor, meeting the demands of hundreds of protesters who took to the streets on Sunday complaining of poor services.

But about 200 guerrillas were still roaming parts of the town and attacking police with rockets and AK-47 assault rifles....

***

...a fierce sandstorm whipped up by a rare air pressure system over Iraq's western desert smothered Baghdad in sand and dust, reducing visibility to 50 meters (yards) or less in some areas....The few who dared to venture out did so with building workers' face masks or a simple wet cloth over the nose and mouth. Hospital emergency wards were packed with people with breathing problems....


http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq.html

[NNN0LHI]

1. Are they having these talks in a tent? Get inside a building boys

And get to work.

Don

[bemildred]

2. Sandstorm paralyses Baghdad

Thousands of people were left suffocating Monday as a massive sandstorm brought life in the war-torn Iraqi capital to a virtual standstill.

Nearly 1,000 cases of suffocation were reported at the city's Yarmuk Hospital which saw one 60-year-old woman die.

Hundreds of other people visited private clinics and family doctors as a fog-like cloak of orange dust sat over the city.

Traffic came to a virtual standstill as commuters stayed at home, while those who dared step out wore masks or covered their mouths with piece of cloth to keep the dust out.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=14223

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Awful -- as if things weren't bad enough there! Thanks, bemildred...

for posting this additional info.

[bemildred]

4. Sounds like it really sucks.

The pictures are kind of science fictiony, like a picture of Dune.
Baghdad weather report:

"Wind blown sand with occasional RPGs and small-arms fire."

[DeepModem Mom]

5. A sadly clever forecast, bemildred.

:)