Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses. Share the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

Protests Continue in Iraq Amid Disagreement on Nominating a Prime Minister, Tensions Rising Between Shi'i Milititias

December 17, 2019

Editor's Note:

Iraqis, both Sunnis and Shi'is, are fed-up with the US-installed corrupt regime, they are in full revolt against it, demanding it to be thrown out (regime change by people).

 

Imam of mosque killed, as gunmen open fire, northeast of Baghdad, December 16, 2019	Iraqi protesters close a university in Babil, December 16, 2019

 

The following are news stories from the independent Iraqi Arabic news agency, Yaqein ( http://yaqein.net/ ):

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Competion for military, political, and financial gains may lead to a civil war between Shi'i milititias in Iraq هل يؤدي الصراع بين فصائل الحشد الى حرب شاملة ؟ 17 ديسمبر 2019 | الكاتب:يقين   يتوقع  خبراء أمنيون أحتمالية تحول الصراع العسكري بين فصائل الحشد إلى حرب شاملة إذا ما استمرت الأزمة الحالية. و يقول الخبير الأمني “حسن العبيدي” في حديثه لوكالة “يقين” إنه ومنذ انتهاء العمليات العسكرية في العراق ضد تنظيم الدولة “داعش”باتت فصائل الحشد تتصارع من أجل كسب المزيد من النفوذ العسكري والسياسي والمالي، وبالتالي فإن هذا الصراع تحول إلى عسكري بفعل كم الخلافات البينية بين الفصائل. ويشير العبيدي إلى أنه وعلى الرغم من أن جميع الكتل السياسية الشيعية والأذرع العسكرية لها موالية لإيران، إلا أن مصالحها على الأرض تختلف وتتباين تباينا كاملا. و بدأت إيران تفقد بعد التظاهرات الشعبية  المبادرة والقوة في السيطرة على الكتل الشيعية وفصائلها المسلحة على الأرض، خاصة بعد تململ الشارع الشيعي. ولا يستبعد العبيدي أن تتجه الأوضاع في العراق إلى حرب شاملة بين الفصائل العسكرية التابعة للحشد، لافتا إلى أن محافظات الوسط والجنوب ستكون هي ساحة الصراع الذي لا تزال إيران تحاول وأده أو تاجيله على أقل تقدير. و في حديثه لوكالة “يقين” قال الناشط في مظاهرات ميسان “ميثم على” أن اغتيال مدير مكتب العصائب “وسام العلياوي” وشقيقه “عصام العلياوي” في تشرين الأول / اكتوبر الماضي عند مهاجمة مكتبهم لم يكن حادثا عرضيا، بل كان من فعل بعض الذين دخلوا التظاهرات السلمية للشباب وهم ينتمون لسرايا السلام. وأضاف أن الأحداث المتلاحقة كشفت عن شرخ كبير وصراع أكبر بين السرايا من جهة وبين العصائب وحلفائها من جهة أخرى، خاصة أن زعيم العصائب “قيس الخزعلي” كان من قادة جيش المهدي قبل أن ينشق وينقلب على “مقتدى الصدر“. المصدر:وكالة يقين للانباء https://yaqein.net/politics/232207

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The following are news stories from the independent Iraqi English news site, (https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en):

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Protests continue in Iraq amid disagreement on prime minister

The Baghdad Post, December 17, 2019

Anti-government protests continued across Iraq as political consultations in the capital Baghdad yesterday failed to choose a candidate to succeed Adil Abdul Mahdi as prime minister.

The Iraqi protesters and ruling parties have not been able to nominate a candidate who is acceptable to all sides to succeed Abdul Mahdi, leaving the country on the brink of constitutional vacuum, MEM reported.

In late November, Abdul Mahdi resigned as prime minister following months of anti-government protests which left hundreds of protesters dead and thousands injured.

Iraqi President Barham Salih on Sunday called on parliament to announce the parliamentary bloc that won the largest number of seats in the elections last year as a prelude to delegating it to appoint its candidate for the post of prime minister.
 
Salih explained that according to the constitution a new prime minister must be appointed within a maximum of 15 days following the departure of the sitting head of government, meaning that the new candidate should be nominated by Thursday.
Protesters have demanded that the upcoming prime minister should not have played any political role since 2003.

A shop owner who provides aid to the protests killed in the capital Baghdad

The Baghdad Post, December 17, 2019

An official security source said on Tuesday that the owner of a commercial store was killed by unknown gunmen in the capital, Baghdad.

The source told Shafaq News, that unidentified gunmen stabbed the owner of a store who sells shoes and bags with sharp tools in Al-Amiriya area in Baghdad and immediately killed him, then they drag his body to the store's store and flee to an unknown destination.

For his part, a police officer said that the dead man was collecting financial and logistical assistance to the protesters and sending them to Tahrir Square in the center of the capital.

Imam of mosque killed, as gunmen open fire, northeast of Baghdad

The Baghdad Post, 16 December 2019 10:38 PM

Unidentified armed people have killed Imam of a mosque in al-Shaab region, northeast of Baghdad, the War Media Cell said. In a statement on Monday, the cell said “unidentified gunmen opened fire against Imam of al-Farouq mosque in al-Shaab region, leaving him killed.” Security troops, according to the statement, opened investigations on the incident.

Protesters close a university and an activist survives an assassination attack

The Baghdad Post, 16 December 2019 11:08 AM

This morning, protesters closed a university in Babil Governorate, preventing students and staff from working.

Shafaq News correspondent said that this morning, protesters closed the university gates, and prevented students and staff from entering.

The correspondent added that the protesters called the university to strike the official working hours in support of the demonstrations in the country.

Meanwhile, a security source said that after midnight, unidentified gunmen with silencer guns shot 15-year-old protester Mohammed Baqer in Dhi Qar without being able to hit him.

Iraqi president receives list of candidates for new PM-designate

The Baghdad Post, December 17, 2019

The Iraqi President Barham Salih on Monday received a list of candidates to choose one of them as prime minister-designate to form a new government that would replace the caretaker government of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, an official news agency reported.

The state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted well-informed political sources as saying that Salih received a list of a number of candidates, including Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, Asaad al-Eidani and Mustafa al-Kazemi.

The president also "received the names of candidates nominated by the demonstrators, one of them is Judge Raed Jouhi," according to INA.

It said that the list is not final and can be changed according to the agreement of the political blocs, and the president will ask a figure for the post of prime minister-designate after he (Salih) guarantees in advance his approval by the parliament.

INA also said that Abdul Mahdi has informed Salih that the deadline for his caretaker government is next Thursday, according to the sources.

According to article 76 of the Iraqi constitution, the largest coalition in parliament should nominate a candidate for the vacant post to president who will task the new prime minister-designate within 15 days to form a new cabinet.

According to INA, Salih might go for other options and chose a candidate for the post from outside the largest coalition, because (the independent politician) Abdul Mahdi was nominated for the premier post by political agreement after the largest winners of the 2018 elections disputed over who was the largest coalition.

"Then the (constitutional) condition of the largest coalition had ended after Adel Abdul Mahdi was nominated for the post of prime minister," INA said citing the sources' explanation.

On Dec. 1, the Iraqi parliament approved the resignations of Abdul Mahdi and his government and sent a letter about the resignation to President Salih on Dec. 4, then Salih will have to task a prime minister-designate within a period of 15 days.

The prime minister-designate has 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval. The parliament must approve each minister in separate absolute majority votes.

For their part, the demonstrators reject any candidate for prime minister-designate from the political parties participating in the current political process, and stipulate that the candidate be independent.

The current political row came as mass demonstrations have continued in the capital Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since early October, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities.

US strengthens protection of its embassy in Baghdad

The Baghdad Post, 16 December 2019 

A group of US military tankers headed to the fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, a security source said.

The source said that a military force consisting of 15 tankers carrying Humvees along with US ammunition and weapons, headed late Sunday evening to the Green Zone.

The source added that this force has a permit to enter the fortified area and go to the United States of America Embassy.

The source did not disclose the location from which these military tankers have arrived.

This comes at a time when the fortified Green Zone, which includes the Iraqi parliament building, sensitive government departments and institutions in addition to the embassies and diplomatic missions of countries, have been subjected to continuous missile strikes during the past few period.

On Friday, US Secretary of State ,Mike Pompeo condemned the attack, which targeted a military headquarters in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport, at the same time threatening Iran, and its agents, with a "decisive" response if exposed to the Americans or Washington's partners in Iraq.

It is noteworthy that the United States had imposed sanctions on leaders of "Asaib Ahl al-Haq", the security director of the Popular Mobilization Forces and others, accusing them of being behind the attacks on the demonstrators.

Washington also accused Iran and its proxies of targeting an Iraqi military base hosting American forces.

It is noteworthy that the capital, Baghdad, and the predominantly Shiite provinces in the country have witnessed massive demonstrations since early last October against the political parties and forces that run the country.

Nearly 500 protesters and civil activists fell and thousands were injured as a result of these protests, which were accompanied by "excessive" violence, according to what was decided by the caretaker government headed by the resigned Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

International parties held the Iraqi government and security institutions with the fall this number of victims among the protesters by armed groups linked to the authority, calling for the need to provide the necessary protection for peaceful demonstrations in the country. Related Stories

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