America issues a strong stance to the Iraqi government and political leaders on the protests

The United States government on Wednesday called on the federal government and Iraqi political leaders to “react urgently” and “seriously” to the demands of citizens demanding reform, condemning the killing and kidnapping of unarmed protesters.

The US government issued a statement on the ongoing violence in Iraq, saying that “the United States is always interested in supporting a secure, prosperous and capable Iraq that can defend its people against violent extremist groups and deter those who undermine its sovereignty and democracy.”

The statement added that “as the world follows the development of events in Iraq, it is clear that the Iraqi government and political leaders to urgently and seriously interact with the Iraqi citizens demanding reform, there is no future for Iraq to suppress the will of its people.”

The statement condemned “the killing and abduction of unarmed protesters and the threat of freedom of expression and the cycle of violence,” noting that “Iraqis must be free to make their own decisions about the future of their country.”

Earlier in the day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: “The Iraqi and Lebanese people want their countries back. They discover that the Iranian regime’s highest exports are corruption, disguised as a revolution.”

“Both Iraq and Lebanon deserve to run their own affairs free from Khamenei’s interference,” he said.

The capital Baghdad and the central and southern Euphrates provinces are witnessing demonstrations launched since early October and resumed again on 25 of the same month in protest against the deterioration of living and service conditions, the spread of unemployment, and financial and administrative corruption in the state institutions and departments.

Demands have risen to topple the government and parliament, and the removal of all parties involved in the political process since 2003, until now after violence and repression of protesters, which left dozens dead and hundreds injured.

Protesters in several predominantly Shiite cities, including the capital Baghdad, have launched a general strike by cutting off vital roads and government departments in a move to increase pressure on the judiciary, legislative and executive authorities and political parties and ruling forces to implement the demands of the demonstrators

Shafaaq.com

Anger as Khamenei accuses Lebanon, Iraq revolutionaries of being ‘Zionist’ tools

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused protesters in Iraq and Lebanon of succumbing to “Zionist regime”.

“The people of Iraq and Lebanon have some demands that are rightful, but they should know these demands can only be realised within the legal framework of their countries,” he said in remarks aired on state television.

“When the legal structure is disrupted in a country, no action can be taken,” he added.

He also took to his English Twitter account to repeat his claim that has been lambasted as a conspiracy.

“I recommend those who care in #Iraq and #Lebanon remedy the insecurity and turmoil created in their countries by the U.S., the Zionist regime, some western countries,and the money of some reactionary countries”, he said in a controversial tweet.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani echoed Khamenei, accusing those protesting against corruption of “foreign interference”.

“Our advice has always been to call for peace and (stopping) interference by foreign forces in these countries,” President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff Mahmoud Vaezi was quoted as saying by state media.

Both comments were met with anger across the Arab world, with protestsers accusing Iran of using its geopolitical muscle as a way of undermining popular calls for greater rights and freedoms in Iraq and Lebanon, where Tehran has huge influence through militias.

On Friday, clashes erupted when partisans of the powerful Iranian-backed Shia group entered Beirut’s Riad Al-Solh square, chanting in support of Hezbollah.

On Monday, pro-Amal and Hezbollah supporters also rampaged through a protest camp in the same site.

The rallies in Iraq and Lebanon ignited hopes of a renewal of the Arab Spring in the two countries both plagued by corruption, mismanagement, and a power structure based on sectarian affiliation.

Earlier this year, protests also broke out in Algeria and Sudan, prompting the departure of longtime dictators Omar Al-Bashir and Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

One major difference between the protests in Lebanon is the level of force the authorities are willing to use.

While protesters in Lebanon have clashed with the army and been attacked by supporters of the Hezbollah and Amal movements, who both participate in government, there have been no fatalities.

By contrast, over 250 protesters have been killed in Iraq since protests began on 1 October, and security forces have used machine guns against protesters as well as tear gas.

Alaraby.co.uk

Sadr: not to resign Abdul Mahdi will not inject blood and will not join alliances after today

[Baghdad-Where] Sadr’s leader, Mr. Moqtada al-Sadr, said that the failure of the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, “will not inject blood.”

Sadr said in a statement received by the agency [where] a copy, “Attention .. It is just a warning and not intimidation, you people are higher than fear for those who did not pay attention, I try to alert him or [warning] Syria and then Yemen and now ?! Iraq, yesterday Bashar [Assad- Syrian President] then [Mansour] Abd Rabbo [Yemeni President] and now Adel Abdul Mahdi. ”

He added, “O rebel people came back what we said yesterday: The resignation of Adel Abdul-Mahdi will deepen the crisis, I say: not resignation will not inject blood and not resignation will make Iraq Syria and Yemen.”

“I will not engage in alliances with you anymore,” he said.

Alliraqnews.com

Iraq Prime Minister Pressed to Quit as Protests Clog Streets

Under pressure from a growing number of protesters, Iraq’s prime minister appeared likely Wednesday to step down in the coming days.

Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters
By Alissa J. Rubin

BAGHDAD — Under pressure from a growing number of protesters, Iraq’s prime minister appeared likely Wednesday to step down in the coming days, although exactly when is the subject of negotiations between two powerful Shiite Muslim leaders.

In a letter to one of the men, the cleric Moktada al-Sadr, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said he would be willing to resign and call early elections. But Mr. Mahdi insisted that it be done according to the procedures in the Constitution.

“It is not enough for the prime minister to go to Parliament to announce early elections,” Mr. Mahdi wrote on Tuesday, saying that there were constitutional requirements “that the prime minister must abide by.”

The prime minister did suggest another path, saying, “If the goal of the elections is to change the government, there is a shorter way to do it.” He encouraged Mr. al-Sadr, who controls the largest bloc in Parliament, to work out an agreement with the man who controls the second-largest bloc, Hadi al-Amiri.

NYTimes.com

Sairon announces the collection of parliamentary signatures to interrogate and dismiss Abdul Mahdi

BAGHDAD / … MP Sairon parliamentary bloc Badr al-Ziadi, on Wednesday, the collection of parliamentary signatures to question Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi “in preparation for his dismissal.”

Al-Ziyadi said in a brief statement received by “Eye of Iraq News”, that the mass “Siron collected signatures to question Adel Abdul-Mahdi in preparation for his dismissal.”

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, warned on Wednesday that the failure of the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi “will make Iraq Syria and Yemen,” stressing that he will not participate in alliances after today.

The capital Baghdad and nine other provinces since last Friday (October 25), large-scale protests to demand the dismissal of the government and bring the killers of demonstrators to justice and work for early elections under international supervision, and resulted in the killing and wounding of hundreds of demonstrators and security forces as a result of brutal repression The demonstrators were subjected to it.

Aynaliraqnews.com

Urgent Prime Minister’s Office: Issue arrest warrants and prevent travel to those accused of corruption

BAGHDAD: The Central Anti-Corruption Court has directed appeals courts in all provinces to issue arrest warrants and travel bans for those accused of corruption, the prime minister’s office said on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the office Saad al-Hadithi, in a press statement that “among the reform packages to activate the Special Court to fight corruption, and began in the past days files of the accused of corruption.”

The statement pointed out that “the court issued arrest warrants and travel bans on all those named in the files of corruption, after being submitted by the Supreme Council against Corruption to the court, and notify the border outlets after their travel until the completion of investigations and sentencing on their cases.”

Alforatnews.com

Calls for speedy oil and gas law legislation

Baghdad/ Farah al-Bat: As part of the reforms announced by the government, the government pledged to continue to address parliament and the legislation of the oil and gas law long awaited by the Iraqi street, because of its importance in establishing a clear and transparent oil policy, which leads to the organization of the oil relationship between the center and the region and to the proper dealing between companies Iraqi and foreign investors and oil companies and, most importantly, the equal distribution of revenues to achieve the country’s development.

Strategic factors

“The legislation of this law has great economic feasibility and works to achieve several strategic factors, including attracting international oil investors known for their solidness, and drawing up a clear policy that makes oil institutions competitive, as they contribute to “These factors are conducing to improving the reality of public oil companies and effectively playing their role, which leads to the blocking of financial and administrative corruption.” And the administrator.”

“The oil and gas law establishes and establishes a legal cover for oil operations in Iraq that give legitimacy to exploration, extraction and production, which has a weight in the international and international community, especially since it regulates the relationship between Iraq and the producing and non-producing countries and draws transparency in Dealing, as will be an important reference to prevent the differences between the Center and the Kurdistan Region, thus leading to an increase in the production and storage of crude oil and gas produced during extraction operations, which need a reference to explain how they work, market and export.”

Production sectors

“The delay in passing the oil and gas law has a negative impact on the country’s economy, which has become mainly dependent on oil revenues, which in turn has caused paralysis in other productive sectors,” the expert said, noting that “the country’s oil wealth can support and do sectors of the country.” Industry, agriculture, construction and construction that contributes to solving the housing crisis, without exporting it to countries.

The Prime Minister announced the signing of an agreement with Norway during the norwegian prime minister’s recent visit to Baghdad, which includes cooperation under the slogan “Oil for Development”, which the government is working to achieve, reviving the development process in all provinces and driving the economy.

“There is a hierarchical relationship between the oil and gas law and other laws, including the National Oil Company Act, the Investment Law and other service laws, and it also paves the way for legislation and the application of important laws concerning agriculture and industry,” al-Marzouq said. Petrochemicals on the one hand and fertilizers on the one hand Another.”

Employment

As for the foundations for the development of the oil sector, Al-Marzouq pointed out that “its development is through the formation of a higher council through which the work of this vital sector is managed, which is expected to achieve a significant increase in the movement of work by employing large numbers of workers in this sector when this happens.” He explains that the formation of this council “will establish a modern and sophisticated system for managing oil operations in Iraq, including the development of long- and medium- and short-term strategies, policies and plans, while expanding the use of direct effort in the Iraqi and foreign public and private sectors to carry out operations. Oil in Iraq, based on the latest technology and economy.

The market

However, the view of Iraq’s oil wealth has become local, al-Marzouq said, “which is that each region views what is below its territory as the property of the region, and contrary to the constitution that oil belongs to the entire Iraqi people, the principle of distributing the benefits of oil among all provinces must be followed in a way that equal.”

Alsabaah.iq

The judiciary responds to Abadi: Your defense of former ministers confirms suspicions that you were a partner in corruption

Baghdad Today _ Baghdad: The Supreme Judicial Council on Monday accused former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of “participating corrupt government ministers in their crimes and exploiting his former position for special purposes.”

A spokesman for the council, Judge Abdul Sattar al-Bayrakdar, said in a statement that “the media center (of the Supreme Judicial Council) was briefed by the former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on the call of the presidency of the Council of the judiciary to preserve the independence of the judiciary,” adding: “We would like to reassure him and others The judiciary has been and will continue to be independent and will not be biased against one party against another and its bias towards the implementation of the law only because the law is above all. ”

“You are the first to know that the judiciary does not respond to the wishes of the executive authority,” he said. For eternal post. ”

He continued the spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council addressed to Elabadi: “The defense of your former ministers because of their recruitment by the judiciary for crimes of corruption underlines the suspicion that you were a partner in their crimes.”

Baghdadtoday.news

Al-Maliki calls on demonstrators to give time to government and warns of (deviation of targets)

Baghdad / Al-Ghad Press: The Secretary-General of the Islamic Dawa Party, Nuri al-Maliki, on Sunday, describing the deviation of the goals and the general situation in Iraq is being drawn into the unknown.

Al-Maliki said in a statement received “tomorrow,” a copy of it, “I am talking to you and we are all living under conditions of concern and crisis relationship between citizens and government and parliamentary bodies, and the launch of legitimate demonstrations demanding, and I would like to warn of the deviation of objectives and the situation to the unknown.”

Maliki added, “out of responsibility, I address the security services to continue to protect peaceful demonstrators and cooperate with them, and focus their efforts on encircling the advocates of sedition, killing, sabotage, burning and wasting the dignity of citizens.”

He called on the government to “accelerate the response to the demands of demonstrators service and political and cooperate with parliament and the judiciary to achieve them as soon as possible.”

“I reiterate to peaceful demonstrators what the Marjai’ah called for demonstrations to be peaceful and legal, by keeping the owners of regional and international agendas from their demonstrations.”

Maliki urged the demonstrators to “give reasonable time to the government in order to achieve the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, and if the government and the House of Representatives unable to do so, it must join forces of political and popular to be the change of government and the House of Representatives in accordance with the constitutional and legal foundations.”

Alghadpress.com