BAGHDAD, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Foreign journalists have begun to flock to Baghdad, a bad omen for Iraqis who see it as a sign that war is coming while the government sees it as an opportunity to put across its side of the story.
For many Iraqis, the influx of news media-types is reminiscent of the 1991 Gulf War that drew a horde of newsmen to the Iraqi capital.
But Iraqi authorities have seized the opportunity to take visiting journalists on tours to show them places where the government insists there are no weapons of mass destruction though the United States and Britain suspect otherwise.
A big event coming up on Oct. 15 for journalists to cover is the referendum on approving a further term in office for President Saddam Hussein. At the same time, reporters are monitoring the reactions of the Iraqi people and leaders to developments in the United States as the Bush administration continues to prepare for a military strike to depose Saddam while politicians and pundits argue over whether going to war is a good idea.
Exceptionally, CNN, the American television news channel that won itself a starring position with its coverage of the 1991 Persian Gulf War from Baghdad, has stayed on here ever since.
Now other U.S. news channels, including Fox News, ABC News and NBC, are asking for entry visas for their correspondents.
So many media types are expected that the Information Ministry has felt obliged to enlarge its media center.
