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, Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ News will bring audiences extensive coverage of voting
across the country.
Developments before, during and after Sunday's official polling will
be covered on Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Television, Radio and online.
The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ'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 Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ's Arabic service will also have a strong presence in many regions,
which will further the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ's coverage.
Correspondents Caroline Hawley, Paul Wood
and Roger Hearing, together with Today programme presenter
Edward Stourton and the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ'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 Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ 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 Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ 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 Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ 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 Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Television bulletins
and Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Radio 4, including The World This
Weekend and Broadcasting House
on the day of polling.
The Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ'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 Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ ONE's The Politics Show will
also hear the opinions of Iraqis in the UK, and Newsround will offer
a perspective for younger viewers.
