IRAQ: TRAINS RUNNING FROM BAGHDAD TO BASRA/ POST OFFICE REOPENS IN BAGHDAD BUT STAMPS STILL FEATURE SADDAM HUSSEIN
Record ID:
230547
IRAQ: TRAINS RUNNING FROM BAGHDAD TO BASRA/ POST OFFICE REOPENS IN BAGHDAD BUT STAMPS STILL FEATURE SADDAM HUSSEIN
- Title: IRAQ: TRAINS RUNNING FROM BAGHDAD TO BASRA/ POST OFFICE REOPENS IN BAGHDAD BUT STAMPS STILL FEATURE SADDAM HUSSEIN
- Date: 7th May 2003
- Summary: U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MAY 7, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV TRAIN AT BAGHDAD STATION/ DRIVERS GETTING INTO TRAIN 0.05 2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING ON PLATFORM, GETTING INTO TRAIN (2 SHOTS) 0.11 3. SLV BRITISH SOLDIERS WITH PASSENGERS ON PLATFORM 0.13 4. SMV WOMEN GETTING ONTO TRAIN 0.18 5. SLV PASSENGERS AND BRITISH SOLDIERS ON PLATFORM 0.23 6. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALADIN SADER, CHIEF ENGINEER OF STATION, SAYING: "I feel good because I want to make my company work and to give services to our people to have them for transportation" 0.34 7. SLV EXTERIOR STATION ENTRANCE/ TORN PICTURE OF FORMER PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN 0.39 8. CLOSE OF TORN PICTURE OF SADDAM AND SIGN READING "MAY GOD PRESERVE IRAQ AND SADDAM" 0.43 9. WIDE OF INTERIOR TRAIN/ PASSENGERS SEATED/ STOWING BELONGINGS 0.48 10. SMV WOMEN AND CHILDREN SEATED ON TRAIN 0.53 11. SCU OF WOMAN WAITING DEPARTURE 0.56 12. VARIOUS, TRAIN LEAVING BAGHDAD STATION ON WAY TO BASRA ( 3 SHOTS) 1.20 (U3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MAY 7, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 13. SMV EXTERIOR "KADHAMYA" POST OFFICE AND CROWD 1.24 14. CLOSE OF , POST OFFICE SIGN 1.27 15. VARIOUS OF POST OFFICE WORKERS CHANTING AND CLAPPING AND HOLDING UO IRAQI FLAG (2 SHOTS) 1.37 16. SMV FEMALE WORKERS BEHIND COUNTER FOR LETTER AND TELEGRAMS 1.41 17. SMV PERSON CARRYING PACKAGE AND HAVING IT WEIGHED BY POST OFFICE WORKER (2 SHOTS) 1.50 18. SMV U.S. SOLDIERS LOOKING AT STAMPS 1.54 19. CLOSE OF SOLDIER HOLDING UP STAMPS FEATURING FORMER IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN 2.01 20. CLOSE OF IRAQI STAMPS WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN 2.05 21. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ABD ALRAZAQ AL AZAWE, DIRECTOR OF THE BAGHDAD POST OFFICE SERVICE, SAYING: "In co-ordination with the co-operating countries we were able to develop this post office. We hope this process will also occur in all other post offices across Iraq." 2.22 22. SMV PERSON GIVING AIRMAIL LETTER TO POST OFFICE STAFF 2.28 23. CLOSE OF STAMP BEING PUT ON LETTER 2.34 24. SMV MAN POSTING LETTER INTO INTERNATIONAL BOX OUTSIDE POST OFFICE 2.39 25. VARIOUS. POSTMAN SETTING OFF ON BICYCLE TO DELIVER LETTERS, AUDIO OF CROWD CLAPPING 2.47 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd May 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVAA44370IXDVKF4768N3HDPGVC
- Story Text: The Iraqi infrastructure is gradually getting back to
normal, with trains running from the station in Baghdad and
post offices re-opening for business -- but certain things
change slowly, and stamps still feature Saddam Hussein.
Railway workers at Baghdad railway station readied a
locomotive pulling passenger and freight vans on Wednesday
(May 7) morning as they prepared to send the second weekly
train to the southern city of Basra.
Passengers - many more than on the first train on April
30th - moved along the platform, loading belongings and
boarding the train.
"I feel good because I want to make my company work and to
give services to our people to have them for transportation",
said Aladin Sader, Chief station engineer.
British soldiers secured the area ahead of the train's
departure, which is being heralded as an important stepping
stone in British and American efforts to repair Iraq's
infrastructure following the war.
"Well it's the start of increased freedom of movement",
said one British officer. "It also demonstrates something
that's going on behind the scenes which is the increasing
movement of significant amounts of freight".
A ticket to Basra costs a thousand dinars - less than 50
cents.
Employees at one of Baghdad's main post offices on
Wednesday (May 7) cheered and clapped as counters opened for
domestic business after almost two months of closure.
Workers in the "Kadhamya" post office went back to work
collecting letters and telegrams for destinations across the
country.
All had been employed in the service under Saddam and
were simply resuming their positions.
Machines had been replaced and infrastructure restored by Iraqi and
foreign organisations, aided by coalition forces.
"In coordination with the cooperating countries we were
able to develop this post office", said Abd Alrazad al Azawe.
"We hope this process will also occur in all other post
offices across Iraq".
Postal services were destroyed during the bombing and
subsequent looting after U.S. forces entered the country.
During Saddam's regime
Though never technically advanced, the Iraqi postal system
was much relied on by ordinary Iraqis for communication across
Iraq due to the poor telephone system and general control.
Telegrams were also widely used.
The resumed postal facilities are of a similar standard.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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