Iraqi journalists face sacks of gold, fists of fire

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi journalists who have survived deadly threats through years of war and insurgency now face a new challenge -- whether to accept cash "bonuses" from the government, and even cheap flats and free land.

The $1,000 bonus scheme was first proposed in 2007 but is only now being paid, while the under-priced apartments in Baghdad or plots of land in the provinces were approved by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki before his reappointment last month, said Hani al-Iqabi, an adviser with the journalist's syndicate.