Australia to Give Infected Sheep to Iraq for Ramadan

[Yoshie Furuhashi <furuhashi.1@xxxxxxx>]

The following article sums up the type of "foreign aid" and
"reconstruction" that Iraqis may expect from foreign occupiers . . .
a "gift" of infected animals rejected by ten countries . . . just in
time for a Muslim holy day!

*****   Australia to give infected sheep to Iraq for Ramadan
Agence France-Presse
Sydney, September 26

After more than 10 countries rejected its sheep that reportedly
suffer from scabby mouth disease Australia has struck a secret deal
to offload these sheep from the so-called "ship of death" in Iraq in
time for the Muslim festival of Ramadan, reports said on Friday.

Amid burgeoning public outcry over the sheep's plight and an
unprecedented advertising campaign by the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the government is keen to
land the sheep in the Middle East.

The shipload of 57,000 live sheep left Australia almost two months
ago for Saudi Arabia but was rejected because an excessive number
were suffering from the scabby mouth disease, a claim dismissed by
on-board Australian veterinarians.

The sheep have since been stranded on the Dutch-owned Cormo Express
in the Persian Gulf in sweltering conditions which have led to around
6,000 deaths, the RSPCA said.

Melbourne's Age newspaper reported on Friday that the government had
struck a secret deal with Iraq for the sheep to be slaughtered for
Ramadan [@
<http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/26/1064083160817.html>].

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said Australian livestock
exporters, keen to put an end to the public relations disaster, would
buy back the surviving sheep and give them away.

It said the deal would cost the national live trade industry up to
$6.8 million and could lead to a levy on live exports.

Government officials were not available for comment. The Australian
Associated Press quoted an agriculture ministry spokesman saying that
no statement would be issued until a deal was sealed.

The holy month of Ramadan ends on November 24 when Muslims celebrate
with feasting and gifts after a month of fasting. . . .

<http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_391364,0005.htm>   *****

Yoshie


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