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UAE condemns assassination attempt on Iraqi PM

Mustafa al-Kadhimi

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the “cowardly” terrorist attack that targeted the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, in the Green Zone in the capital, Baghdad…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) stressed that the UAE expressed its strong denunciation of these terrorist acts that aim to destabilise security and stability in Iraq in contravention of all moral and humanitarian principles.

The UAE renewed its full solidarity with Iraq in the face of terrorism, reiterating the country’s keenness to establish security and stability in Iraq.

Iraqi PM calls for dialogue after surviving assassination attempt

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Sunday checked on the health of Iraqi PM following the assassination attempt.

This came in a phone call wherein Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s solidarity with Iraq and support for its endeavours to establish stability and security and ensure a brighter future for its people.

Al-Kadhimi in return expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed for his fraternal feelings, and commended the UAE’s principled position in support of Iraq and its people under various circumstances.

Meanwhile, PM Al-Kadhimi has said that he has identified the perpetrators of the failed assassination bid.

“We will pursue those who committed the crime. We know them well, and we will reveal their identities,” said a statement by the Prime Minister’s media office.

These perpetrators are the same who killed Nibras Farman, an Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) officer, and they will be brought to justice, al-Kadhimi said on Sunday without giving further details.

Before Sunday early morning, al-Kadhimi escaped unharmed from an armed drone assassination attempt on his residence in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses some of the main offices of the Iraqi government and foreign embassies.

The assassination attempt came amid protests by followers of political parties rejecting October’s election results.

On Friday, the protests escalated into a clash with the security forces at the entrances of the Green Zone, which led to the killing of two protesters and the wounding of dozens of security members and protesters.

ASLO READ: Iraqi PM calls for dialogue after surviving assassination attempt

In the Parliamentary elections on October 10, the Sadrist Movement, led by prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, took the lead with more than 70 seats, while the al-Fatah (Conquest) Coalition garnered 17 seats compared with 47 in the 2018 elections.

Political parties questioning the results said the elections were manipulated and that they would not accept the “fabricated results.”

Followers of the political parties rejecting the election results took to the streets in many Iraqi cities, including the capital Baghdad, when the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission is still considering the appeals and complaints submitted by the political parties.

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Iraq News World

Iraqi PM calls for dialogue after surviving assassination attempt

Iraqi PM calls for dialogue after surviving assassination attempt

The assassination attempt came amid protests by followers of political parties rejecting last month’s election results…reports Asian Lite News

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Sunday criticized an assassination attempt carried out by a drone targeting his official residence and called for a calm dialogue among all Iraqis for the future of the country.

Al-Kadhimi confirmed in a video posted on his official Twitter page that he and other workers at his residence are safe, stressing that “cowardly missiles and cowardly drones do not build a homeland or a future (for the country), and we are working to build our homeland by respecting the state and its institutions and creating a better future for all Iraqis”, reports Xinhua news agency.

Iraqi PM calls for dialogue after surviving assassination attempt

“I call on all parties to resort to calm dialogue to build Iraq and its future,” al-Kadhimi said in his speech, which was also aired by the official Iraqiya channel.

At dawn, al-Kadhimi escaped unhurt an assassination attempt by a booby-trapped drone that landed on his residence in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses some of the main offices of the Iraqi government and foreign embassies.

The assassination attempt came amid protests by followers of political parties rejecting last month’s election results.

On November 5, the protests developed to a clash with the security forces at the entrances of the Green Zone, which led to the killing of two protesters and the wounding of dozens of security members and protesters.

In the parliamentary elections on October 10, the Sadrist Movement, led by prominent Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, took the lead with more than 70 seats, while the al-Fatah (Conquest) Coalition garnered 17 seats compared with 47 in the 2018 elections.

ALSO READ: Turkish Parliament launching cross-border operations in Iraq, Syria

Political parties unsatisfied with the results said the elections were manipulated and that they would not accept the “fabricated results”.

Followers of the political parties rejecting the election results took to the streets in many cities, including the capital Baghdad, when the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission is still considering the appeals and complaints submitted by the political parties.

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Arab News Iraq World

Turkish Parliament launching cross-border operations in Iraq, Syria

Turkish Parliament launching cross-border operations in Iraq, Syria

Turkish Parliament has ratified a motion extending authorisation for the government to launch cross-border operations in northern Iraq and Syria for two more years…reports Asian Lite News

The motion, passed on Tuesday, will authorise cross-border operations to be carried out in Iraq and Syria from October 30, 2021 to October 30, 2023, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The previous cross-border motions were only for one-year duty.

Turkey President

The motion also allowed the deployment of foreign armed forces in Turkey with the principles to be determined by the president.

The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria in order to create a zone free of the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) along its border within the neighbouring country.

Turkey sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

ALSO READ: Wake up call for India as Turkey joins Pakistan in FATF grey list

Turkish forces frequently carry out ground operations, airstrikes and artillery bombardments against the PKK positions in northern Iraq, especially the Qandil Mountains, the main base of the group, and have been keeping troops in the region.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years.

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Arab News Iraq World

Iraq’s cleric warns neighbouring countries against interfering in poll results

Iraq’s cleric warns neighbouring countries against interfering in poll results

Iraq’s prominent Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has warned the neighbouring countries against interfering in the ongoing dispute over the preliminary results of the October 10 parliamentary elections…reports Asian Lite News

“We will not allow any country to interfere with the dispute on the results of the elections, the formation of the government, and so on. Everything that happens is a democratic struggle between members of one people,” al-Sadr tweeted on Sunday after his party appeared as the frontrunner in the parliamentary elections.

The cleric said that if the interfering countries refrain from halting their interference, Iraq will resort to diplomatic means according to the international law as well as “reducing economic relations”, reports Xinhua news agency.

Iraq’s cleric warns neighbouring countries against interfering in poll results

Iraq would not interfere in the internal affairs of the neighbouring countries, Al-Sadr added, noting that the relations between Baghdad and these nationswill not be in accordance with sectarian or unilateral interests.

Iraq held early parliamentary elections on October 10, in showed the Sadrist Movement, led by al-Sadr, took the lead with more than 70 seats, while the al-Fateh Coalition (Conquest), which includes some Shia militias of Hashd Shaabi, garnered only 17 seats compared with 47 seats in the 2018 parliamentary elections.

ALSO READ: Terrorists entering Afghanistan from Syria, Iraq: Putin

The results were surprising to many political parties, who denounced the elections as manipulation and fraud, and warned that they would not accept the “fabricated results” whatever the cost is.

The parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were held in advance in response to months of protests against corruption, poor governance, and a lack of public services.

A total of 3,249 candidates within 167 parties and coalitions competed for 329 seats in the upcoming Parliament.

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Arab News Iraq News

IHEC announces full results of parliamentary elections

IHEC announces full results of parliamentary elections

IHEC has announced the full results of the country’s October 10 parliamentary elections…reports Asian Lite news

The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has announced the full results of the country’s October 10 parliamentary elections, showing prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s party taking the lead.

Judge Jalil Adnan Khalaf, chairman of the Board of Commissioners at IHEC, announced the results at a press conference, without giving details on the political entities or the numbers of seats won by major competing political blocs, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

IHEC announces full results of parliamentary elections

The full results, released after a manual counting of the election votes, have no tangible change from the initial results announced on October 11.

JUDGE JALIL ADNAN KHALAF, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, IHEC: “The full results are still preliminary and can be appealed to the Board of Commissioners, and the board’s decisions about the appeals also can be appealed to the electoral judiciary board, whose decisions will be final.”

According to local media reports, the initial results showed al-Sadr’s party, the Sadrist Movement, leading with more than 70 seats, whereas former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s party, the State of Law Coalition, securing about 35 seats in Baghdad and other central and southern provinces.

The Al-Fateh Coalition (Conquest), which includes some Shiite militias of Hashd Shaabi, garnered about 14 seats, while the Imtidad Movement won nine seats, mainly in the southern province of Dhi Qar.

The political alliance known as Taqaddum, or Progress, headed by outgoing parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, won about 40 seats in Baghdad and other Sunni provinces.

ALSO READ: Iraq announces success in early voting for parliamentary polls

The Kurdistan Democratic Party, headed by Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, won most seats of the Kurdish parties with about 32 seats, mainly in Erbil and Duhok.

The Iraqi parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were advanced in response to months of protests against corruption and a lack of public services.

There were a total of 3,249 candidates vying for 329 seats.

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Iraq News World

Iraqi Prez calls for calm amid a dispute over poll results

Iraqi Prez calls for calm amid a dispute over poll results

The Iraqi parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were held in advance in response to months of protests against corruption, poor governance and a lack of public services…reports Asian Lite News

Iraqi President Barham Salih urged people who have objected to the results of the early parliamentary elections to calm down and resort to law in an effort preserve the country’s stability.

“We call on all parties to adopt a responsible national stance, keep calm, and avoid any escalation that might affect societal peace and security,” Salih said in a statement issued by the presidency media office.

Iraqi Prez calls for calm amid a dispute over poll results

Meanwhile, Salih urged the electoral commission and the judiciary to follow up on all complaints and appeals submitted by those who reject the election results with high professionalism, responsibility, and complete impartiality.

On Monday, the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced the preliminary results of early parliamentary elections, with the Sadrist Movement led by the Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the lead with more than 70 seats, while the al-Fateh Coalition (Conquest), which includes some Shia militias of Hashd Shaabi, garnered about 17 seats after becoming one of the leading blocs in the previous 2018 elections.

However, the Imtidad Movement, whose members joined the 2019 mass protests against corruption and mismanagement, also won about nine seats.

ALSO READ: Terrorists entering Afghanistan from Syria, Iraq: Putin

The initial results were surprising to many political parties, who denounced the early elections as manipulation and fraud and warned that they will not accept the “fabricated results” whatever the cost is.

The Iraqi parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were held in advance in response to months of protests against corruption, poor governance and a lack of public services.

In the polls, 3,249 candidates within 167 parties and coalitions competed for 329 seats in the upcoming parliament.

Categories
Iraq News World

Moqtada al-Sadr set conditions to deal with the US if he takes office

Moqtada al-Sadr set conditions to deal with the US if he takes office

Iraq’s prominent Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has set several conditions to deal with the US if his Sadrist Movement takes office…reports Asian Lite News

One of the conditions is that the diplomatic relations between the US and Iraq should be “state-to-state with full sovereignty”, al-Sadr tweeted on Saturday, after his party appeared the frontrunner in the October 10 parliamentary elections.

Al-Sadr noted that the talks should be serious about the US troops’ withdrawal from Iraq.

Moqtada al-Sadr set conditions to deal with the US if he takes office

He also called on Washington not to interfere in internal affairs and to keep Iraq away from the regional conflicts.

On Monday, the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission announced the preliminary results of the elections, with the Sadrist Movement in the lead with more than 70 seats.

ALSO READ: Israel FM calls for peace with Palestinians and Arab nations

The Iraqi parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were held in advance in response to months of protests against corruption, poor governance, and a lack of public services.

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Iraq News World

Iraq announces success in early voting for parliamentary polls

Iraq announces success in early voting for parliamentary polls

Iraqi authorities announced the success of the early voting with a 69 per cent turnout ahead of snap parliamentary elections…reports Asian Lite News

Judge Jalil Adnan Khalaf, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), said in a press conference that the participation in Friday’s early voting “indicates the beginning of successful legislative elections”, reports Xinhua news agency

Iraq announces success in early voting for parliamentary polls

Khalaf stressed that no irregularities were registered during the early voting, and the results of early voting will be combined with the result of Sunday’s snap elections, which will be announced 24 hours after the end of the general polls.

However, an IHEC statement posted on its official website showed that 821,800 voters cast their ballots out of 1,196,524, which is 69 per cent of the early voting voters across the country.

Early voting for Iraq’s security forces, prisoners, and displaced people began at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m.

ALSO READ: UAE, Iraq discuss joint parliamentary cooperation

The Iraqi parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were advanced in response to months of protests against corruption and a lack of public services.

According to the electoral commission, about 24 million Iraqis are eligible to cast their ballots for 3,249 candidates, running individually and within 167 parties and coalitions, vying for 329 seats in the legislature.

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Iraq News UAE News

UAE, Iraq discuss joint parliamentary cooperation

UAE, Iraq discuss joint parliamentary cooperation

The two sides also affirmed the importance of joint parliamentary cooperation to serve Arab and Islamic issues and rallying support for issues of top priorities at international parliamentary gatherings…reports Asian Lite News

Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of Federal National Council, FNC, welcomed today Muhammad Al-Halbousi, Speaker of Iraq’s House of Representatives, to discuss ways of bolstering of parliamentary friendship and cooperation between the two houses and coordinating stances and consultations towards regional and international issues of mutual interest.

UAE, Iraq discuss joint parliamentary cooperation

The two sides also affirmed the importance of joint parliamentary cooperation to serve Arab and Islamic issues and rallying support for issues of top priorities at international parliamentary gatherings. They also suggested the creation of a joint parliamentary friendship committee to realise the aspirations of the two countries in several areas, help exchange expertise and knowledge and best practices to serve parliamentary diplomacy and promote parliamentary legislative and supervisory frameworks.

ALSO READ: Iraq, US agree to reduce combat units

Saqr Ghobash extended an invitation to Al-Halbousi to visit Expo 2020 Dubai.

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-Top News Iraq USA

Two rockets fired near US embassy in Baghdad

The announcement came on the heels of Biden’s decision to withdraw fully from Afghanistan nearly 20 years after the U.S. launched that war in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks….reports Asian Lite News

Two rockets were fired early Thursday against Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone which houses the US embassy, without causing any casualties or damage, according to Iraqi officials.

The dawn attack came as Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi was flying home from Washington after White House talks in which President Joe Biden announced an end to US combat operations in Iraq.

Even before Biden took office, the main U.S. focus has been assisting Iraqi forces, not fighting on their behalf. And Biden did not say if he planned to reduce the number of troops in Iraq, now about 2,500.

The announcement came on the heels of Biden’s decision to withdraw fully from Afghanistan nearly 20 years after the U.S. launched that war in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Together, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have heavily taxed the U.S. military and kept it from devoting more attention to a rising China, which the Biden administration calls the biggest long-term security challenge.

For years, U.S. troops have played support roles in Iraq and in neighboring Syria, which was the origin of the Islamic State group that swept across the border in 2014 and captured large swaths of Iraqi territory, prompting the U.S. to send troops back to Iraq that year.

Kurdish security forces, known as Peshmerga, assemble outside the town of Bashiqah, some 30 km northeast of Mosul, Iraq

Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office session with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Biden said his administration remained committed to a partnership with Iraq — a relationship that has been increasingly complicated by Iranian-backed Iraqi militia groups.

The militias want all U.S. troops out of Iraq immediately and have periodically attacked bases that house American troops.

Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Concerned Veterans for America, said U.S. troops will remain at risk.

“Regardless of whether their deployment is called a combat mission, U.S. troops will remain under regular attack as long as they remain in Iraq,” Caldwell said in a statement.

“An American military presence in Iraq is not necessary for our safety and only risks the loss of more American life.”

Biden said the U.S. military will continue to assist Iraq in its fight against the Islamic State group, or ISIS. A joint U.S.-Iraq statement said the security relationship will be focused on training, advising and intelligence-sharing.

“Our shared fight against ISIS is critical for the stability of the region and our counterterrorism operation will continue, even as we shift to this new phase we’re going to be talking about,” Biden said.

ALSO READ: Iraq recovers 17,000 artefacts from US