Category:
News; Radio
4; Five
Live
Date: 25.01.2005
Printable version
As Iraq stands on the eve of its first democratic election in half a
century, ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ News will bring audiences extensive coverage of voting
across the country.
Developments before, during and after Sunday's official polling will
be covered on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television, Radio and online.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Newsgathering operation, which has maintained the longest
running news bureau of any western broadcaster in Iraq, will have teams
in three key locations.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s Arabic service will also have a strong presence in many regions,
which will further the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s coverage.
Correspondents Caroline Hawley, Paul Wood
and Roger Hearing, together with Today programme presenter
Edward Stourton and the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s World Affairs Editor
John Simpson, will report from Baghdad, while Ben
Brown, Peter Grant and Christian Fraser
will be embedded with British troops in and around Basra.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ will also report from the Kurdish areas in the north of the
country, with correspondent Jim Muir based in the town
of Abril.
John Simpson will also question whether the elections will put Iraq
on the road to peace, in a Panorama Special
for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ONE on Sunday 30 January.
Simpson interviews some of the country's key players and hears the
thoughts of ordinary Iraqis about the situation.
The views of the Iraqi public are also heard when celebrated Baghdad
blogger Salam Pax reports for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TWO's Newsnight.
Also in the programme, business correspondent Paul Mason
explores the blogging trend as a more secure alternative for expressing
personal views in the country.
The feelings of a cross-section of the Iraqi people and the coalition
forces will also continue to be a feature on bbc.co.uk/news.
The website will also offer complete coverage and commentary on the
ongoing process.
Additionally, there will be regular updates on all ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Television bulletins
and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4, including The World This
Weekend and Broadcasting House
on the day of polling.
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s continuous news channels, News 24 and Radio Five Live, will
provide comprehensive coverage during voting and offer wide-ranging
analysis after the polls close.
Programmes including Breakfast and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ ONE's The Politics Show will
also hear the opinions of Iraqis in the UK, and Newsround will offer
a perspective for younger viewers.
