Iraq .. Barham Salih sets the specifications for the next prime minister

[SocalDinar]

Political instability weighs on Iraq’s economic recovery

 

Widespread corruption, a weak regulatory framework, and a poor business environment inhibit private sector growth, IIF report says

An Iraqi demonstrator waves a large national flag in the capital Baghdad's Tahrir Square, amid ongoing anti-government protests. AFP

Iraq's road to economic recovery is being further hampered by the political instability that has rocked the country for the past two months, as well as a lack of institutional capacity, according to a report by the Institute of International Finance.

The unrest, which has led to at least 400 deaths and the resignation of prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, have been sparked by "deep-seated anger over endemic corruption, a lack of job opportunities, poor public services, the inability of ordinary citizens to feel the benefits of considerable oil wealth, and Iran’s interference in Iraqi political affairs", the Washington-based institute said.

“The ongoing political instability and continued unrest could lead to a contraction in non-oil gross domestic product for the fourth quarter of this year … The already fragile economy could be crippled if political uncertainty and protests continue in 2020,” said the IIF's report, which was co-authored by its Mena chief economist Garbis Iradian.

According to the World Bank’s estimates, Iraq’s war damages stand at around $46 billion (Dh169bn), while rebuilding the country would require $23 billion for short-term reconstruction, and an additional $65bn over a subsequent five-year horizon, totalling $88bn.

 

“Continuous domestic political instability and possible elections without clear winners could lead to significant delays in reconstruction and a power vacuum leaving space for a resurgence of militant forces. Second, further deterioration of the fiscal position may crowd out private sector credit and push public debt to unsustainable levels,” the IIF said.

The domestic instability has meant expected foreign inflows earmarked for reconstruction have not materialised, and declining oil prices have weakened Iraq’s external position, adding pressure on official reserves.

While official reserves remain adequate at $63.6 billion in September 2019, Iraq’s economy is dominated by 160 inefficient state-owned enterprises which employ a large portion of the workforce outside the oil industry. Widespread corruption, a weak regulatory framework, and a poor business environment inhibit private sector development, job creation, and higher FDI inflows, the report said.

A growing wage bill further undermines Iraq’s fiscal position. It is expected to increase by 18 per cent in real terms next year, and its share of total expenditure would rise to 52 per cent, or 17 per cent of GDP. As oil receipts account for 90 per cent of total government revenues, lower oil prices and weak tax collection could shift the country's fiscal balance from a small surplus in 2018 to a deficit of 4 per cent of GDP this year.

The government is expected to continue financing its fiscal needs with high-interest domestic short-term borrowings but this may hamper the private sector credit market, which currently accounts for about 9 per cent of GDP.

Iraq remains a largely cash-based society and instability has delayed the development of its banking system, which remains underdeveloped due to a lack of competitiveness and the dominance of state-owned banks that are undercapitalised, illiquid and burdened by underperforming assets, the IIF said.

https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/political-instability-weighs-on-iraq-s-economic-recovery-1.948136

[6ly410]

 

[umbertino]

Baghdad shooting: Fifteen dead after gunman opens fire on protesters, officials say

 

Sixty people also injured during shooting near Tahrir Square in Iraqi capital

 

• Chiara Giordano
• 18 hours ago

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/baghdad-shooting-iraq-protests-death-toll-latest-a9236511.html

[Butifldrm]

 

12/12/2019 15:42

• Views 233
• Section: Iraq
•  

Blocs: The incident of storming al-Khulani and the bank breaks the back of the political process

 

Baghdad / Obelisk: The head of the Turkmen Front, Arshad al-Salihi, saw on Saturday, 7 December 2019, that the incident of gunmen storming al-Khilani and al-Sanak square in Baghdad, and opened fire towards the demonstrators there, had "broken the back of the political process", assuring that the government would be facing "international accountability" Towards these massacres. "

Al-Salhi said in press statements, "The massacre committed against the demonstrators in al-Sink and al-Khilani Square yesterday in Baghdad broke the back of the political process, and we have warned more than once the Iraqi government not to go to violate the Iraqi human right," stressing that "the government will be in front of International accountability towards the massacres committed against the demonstrators, according to international humanitarian law signed by the Iraqi government.

The head of the Turkmen Front added, "The Parliamentary Human Rights Committee called for an emergency session of Parliament since the first hour of the Al-Senk massacre," accusing the Presidency of the parliament of "ignoring the presentation of parliamentary human rights committee reports to the deputies."

He continued, "It appears that there are political pressures being exerted on the Presidency to prevent the display of reports," noting that there is "a fear of discussing the reports of the Human Rights Committee in the House of Representatives."

On Saturday, the "National Approach" bloc called on the security forces to "assume their national responsibility" in protecting the demonstrators and revealing the identity of the armed groups that stormed al-Khilani Square and al-Sanak in Baghdad, and killed a number of them.  

 Follow the obelisk

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/183630/كتل-حادثة-اقتحام-الخلاني-والسنك-تقصم-ظهر-العملية-السياسية

[Butifldrm]

 

12/07/2019 16:16

• Views 105
• Section: Iraq
•  

Najaf opens a rapid investigation into the incident of tenderness

 

Baghdad / Obelisk: Najaf Governor Louay Al-Yasiri said on Saturday, December 7, 2019, that "the local government, headed by the governor and the police leadership, should open a quick investigation into the incident of tenderness at the highest levels."

Al-Yasiri denied, the news that some social media reported, that Muqtada Al-Sadr's house was not attacked by the drone, while he confirmed that investigations are continuing regarding what happened in Al-Hanana.

And the governor, who publishes false news about the local government, held "the legal responsibility for any breach or transgression that harms public and private interests and harms the great efforts of the local government, security services, tribal sheikhs and elders to restore life to the province and open state institutions."

Follow the obelisk

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/183631/النجف-تفتح-تحقيقا-سريعا-بحادثة-الحنانة

[Butifldrm]

A member of the Hezbollah Brigades, who directly targeted protesters, was arrested

 Saturday 07 December 2019

 

A video clip circulating on a page of the October Revolution showed what the demonstrators were exposed to on Friday, December 6, 2019, at the Al-Sink Bridge in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

According to what the lenses documented, an element of the pro-Iranian militia was arrested, who was firing live ammunition at the Sunni protesters.

He is affiliated with the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades - one of the most prominent Iranian arms in the country - and called Bashar Hassan al-Baidani, and he had an AK-47, in addition to a Paretta 16 pistol.

Al-Mazbout is 24 years old and has been charged with killing protesters by targeting directly in the head.

 

The moment of the arrest of a militia member, who was shooting demonstrators in Al-Senak. Name: Bashar Hassan Al-Baidani Al-Saffah / An element in the Hezbollah Brigades Weapon Type / Kalashnikov in addition to the Perta pistol 16 Born 95 orders / Indiscriminate shooting in the head area exclusively

 

https://kitabat.com/news/ضبط-عنصر-بكتائب-حزب-الله-يستهدف-المتظا/

[Butifldrm]

Iraqis rise up in defense of the revolutionaries .. Al-Nujaba and Asaib militia targeted them with automatic and white weapons

 Saturday 07 December 2019

save  Print 

Baghdad - Writings

 

Mobilize from all parts of the Iraqi capital in defense of the protesting protesters in Tahrir Square after the proxy militias of Iran began implementing the plan of the Quds Force Commander and the official of the Arab file in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, aimed at expelling them from Tahrir Square to quell the revolution.

Journalists and activists in Al-Tahrir Square in central Baghdad confirmed the involvement of the “Al-Najaba” militia affiliated to Iran in coordination with government intelligence and “Popular Mobilization” intelligence affiliated to “Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis” and “Faleh Al-Fayyad”, by attacking the protesters near Jisr Al-Sinak.

It is interesting that the elements of that militia wrote the word "Soleimani" on the walls of the garage near the bridge, in reference to their implementation of the plan of their leader Qassem Soleimani.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement that it had cordoned off the Khelani Square in central Baghdad and was conducting an investigation to find out who shot the protesters.

On the other hand, the use of excessive violence by armed militias resulted in the martyrdom of the war photographer Ahmed Al-Muhanna in Tahrir Square late on Friday, December 6, 2019.

 

Translated from Arabic by

Promising Reporter: Journalists and activists in #ساحة_التحرير Center #بغداد They talk about the involvement of the "Al-Najaba" militia loyal to #إيران - In coordination with the government intelligence and the "crowd" intelligence - by attacking the demonstrators near #جسر_السنك Its members wrote the word "Soleimani" on the walls of the garage near the bridge.

https://kitabat.com/news/العراقيون-ينتفضون-دفاعا-عن-الثوار-ملي/

 

[Butifldrm]

 

Pompeo urges Iraqi leaders to hold accountable killers of protesters

 

 12/12/2019 08:39:38

 

Shafak News / US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday urged Iraqi officials to hold accountable those who kill the protesters.

Dozens of protesters were killed and injured in an attack by unidentified gunmen on the Al-Sinak area and Al-Khilani Square Friday evening.

Pompeo said in a tweet that "on the same day, we imposed sanctions on four Iraqis for targeting protesters and stealing Iraq 's public wealth. We see reports of violent attacks in Baghdad against protesters."

He added that the leaders of Iraq and his government should investigate and prosecute those responsible for these attacks.

On Friday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 4 Iraqis, including three militia leaders linked to Iran, for allegedly violating human rights and killing protesters, as well as for their involvement in corruption cases.

The four targeted are Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia leader Qais al-Khazali and his brother Laith al-Khazali, as well as the head of the Popular Mobilization Security Hussein Faleh, known as Abu Zainab al-Lami, and the leader of the National Axis Alliance in the Iraqi parliament, Khamis Farhan al-Khanjar al-Issawi.

https://www.shafaaq.com/ar/سیاسة/بومبيو-يحث-القادة-العراقيين-على-محاسبة-قتلة-المحتجين/

 

[Butifldrm]

 

Translated from Arabic by

#العراق The most prominent leaders who kill Iraqis (the third party) with the real names and positions they occupy. #العراق_ينتفض

[Butifldrm]

Translated from Arabic by

Militias shoot protesters and wound a "Labik Ya Hussein" banner holder in the Al-Khilani Square! . This explains that the militias do not have any religion, morals or humanity and only know the killing and even the government is involved in the killing because it does not act against these crimes. #العراق_ينتفض

 

 

 

[Butifldrm]

Translated from Arabic by

Before carrying out the massacre #السنك Hours Izzat Shabandar tweeted, at his expense on Twitter, saying: "The new developments that will take place in the demonstration arenas are the beginning of the end of the American-Israeli project in Iraq !!!" #العراق_ينتفض

 

 

 

[Butifldrm]

Translated from Arabic by

#العراق_ينتفض#العراق#العراق_ينتصر What is the difference between revolt and revenge? The revolution is a peaceful, popular movement for change. It remains a peaceful revolution until bloodshed falls, then it changes from a revolution of change to a revolution of tar. This is what is happening now in Iraq. And this revenge revolution is not subject to extinction and silence.

5:48 PM · Dec 6, 2019·Twitter for Android

[DoD]

Well, I'm thinking it's about time for al Sadr to bring in his armed militia to guard his protesters an start killing some of these Iranian military soldiers. It's also very obvious that the corruption in the GOI is so rampant that their not listening to Sistani or the protesters. 

All of them must go, a total redo of this GOI is in order. 

[Butifldrm]

 

[yota691]

The President of the Republic issues an important statement on the armed attack on al-Khilani Square (expanded)

Editing Date: 12/7/2019 16:39 • 268 times read

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) Today, Saturday, the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, issued an important statement on the armed assault on demonstrators in al-Khilani Square in central Baghdad.

A statement to his office stated, "Al-Furat News" received that "Saleh, following with great interest and deep pain, follows up with the competent government authorities what happened on Friday, the sixth of December, an armed criminal attack by criminal gangs and outlaws, which killed a number of martyrs And the wounded in the popular protest. "
The President of the Republic reiterated, "The legitimate right of any citizen to protest and demonstrate peacefully, to prevent and criminalize any armed and violent response against peaceful demonstrators, and the responsibility of the security services of the state, in addition to protecting peaceful demonstrators and public and private property and preserving the lives of Iraqis, is to prosecute criminals outside the law and arrest Them and refer them to a fair judiciary to obtain the deterrent punishment that they deserve. "
Saleh called on everyone to "respect the peaceful nature of the demonstrations that call for reform, societal harmony, and cooperation between citizens and the state's security agencies to maintain public security and confront outlaws."
"As the President of the Republic extends his deepest condolences and condolences to all the families of the martyr victims, and wishes for the speedy recovery of the wounded, his sovereignty affirms his keenness on the unity of the Iraqis in these difficult moments to preserve the security of the homeland and the rights of citizens, as well as emphasizing close follow-up with the competent authorities and what is entitled to the right and maintain peace Al-Ahly guarantees freedom, justice and adherence to the law. "Finished

[yota691]

Blackshart: Protesters were killed by armed elements, by brutality against the people of Iraq

Editing Date: 12/7/2019 18:16 • 82 times read

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq, Janine Blackshart, on Saturday strongly condemned the attacks on peaceful demonstrators in Iraq.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the shooting of unarmed protesters in central Baghdad on Friday night, which has left a high number of deaths and injuries among innocent citizens," said Blackshart in a statement received by the Al Furat News Agency, a copy of it.
She added that "the killing of unarmed demonstrators by armed elements is considered a brutal act against the people of Iraq," stressing that "their identity must be determined and brought to justice without delay."
Blackshart urged the Iraqi armed forces to "make every effort to protect peaceful demonstrators from violence by armed elements operating outside the control of the state," and called on peaceful demonstrators to "cooperate constructively to ensure that peaceful protests are duly protected."
She emphasized, "The gang violence, which is caused by external loyalty, or by political motives, aims to settle the results and put Iraq on a dangerous path," stating that "it is necessary to join in the defense of basic rights, such as the right to peaceful assembly and freedom Speak. "Over

[yota691]

Karbouli for the armed parties: You are responsible if the bullets bounce back to your chests

Editing Date: 12/7/2019 18:26 • 120 times read

(Baghdad: Al Furat News) The head of the solution party, the deputy, Jamal Karbouli, warned the armed parties against the anger of the people.

"The armed parties should warn of the anger of the people," Karbouli said in a tweet on {Twitter}.
"You are responsible if the bullets bounce back to your chests."

[yota691]

Al-Halbousi: The government and security forces must take their role by force of law to maintain security and protect citizens

Editing Date: 12/7/2019 19:58 • 31 times read

{Baghdad: Al Furat News} Today, Saturday, Speaker of Parliament Muhammad Al-Halbousi issued a statement regarding the events that took place last night in Al-Khilani Square in Baghdad.

Al-Halbousi’s office said in a statement received by Al-Furat News: “The Speaker of Parliament followed with great interest what happened yesterday, Friday, to an armed assault on peaceful demonstrators, carried out by criminal gangs outside the law, which killed a number of martyrs and wounded ".
He added: "While his sovereignty condemned the attacks that took place yesterday on peaceful demonstrators and the high cost of life, he reaffirms that the government and the security forces should take their role by force of law to maintain security and protect citizens, their property and capabilities, and to prevent any armed manifestations outside the state." is over

[DoD]

43 minutes ago, yota691 said:

The President of the Republic issues an important statement on the armed attack on al-Khilani Square (expanded

Being he’s the acting PM and a Kurd, why not activate the Pershmega army to protect the protesters...they could stop all that killing. 

[3n1]

10 minutes ago, DoD said:

Being he’s the acting PM and a Kurd, why not activate the Pershmega army to protect the protesters...they could stop all that killing. 

 

correct , the real fighting force of iraq 

[6ly410]

Death toll in Baghdad attack rises to 23

Iraqi demonstrators gather during ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq December 6, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

9 Hours ago

http://www.nrttv.com/En/News.aspx?id=18178&MapID=2

 

SULAIMANI — The death toll in an attack by armed men at Baghdad’s main protest site on Friday night rose to 23 on Saturday (December 7), police and medical sources said, the deadliest incident to hit the capital in weeks.

More than 127 others were wounded by gunfire and stabbings targeting anti-government protesters near Tahrir Square, police and medical sources said. The death toll includes three members of the police, according to Reuters.

Thousands of Iraqis have occupied the central square and three nearby bridges which lead to the city’s Green Zone for weeks, calling for the complete uprooting of the current political system.

Security sources said they could not identify the gunmen who attacked protesters.

The incident was followed by further intimidation early on Saturday morning, as unknown gunmen drove in a convoy down the main riverside street which leads to Tahrir Square, firing a volley of shots toward it.

The heavily armed, masked gunmen roamed the street near the square and attempted to advance onto Tahrir Square but were eventually turned around at a checkpoint manned by Iraq’s security forces, witnesses said.

The incidents were the most violent flare-ups in the capital for weeks and came a week after Iraqi’s prime minister, Adil Abdul Mahdi, said he would resign following two months of anti-government protests.

Friday’s deadly attack came hours after Washington imposed sanctions on three Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary leaders who it accused of directing the killing of Iraqi protesters. A senior U.S. Treasury official suggested the sanctions were timed to distance those figures from any role in forming a new government.

(NRT Digital Media/Reuters)

 

 

[6ly410]

 

 

 

 

Pompeo: We will use our authority to punish corrupt Iraqis

http://almasalah.com/ar/news/183635/بومبيو-سنستخدم-سلطتنا-لمعاقبة-العراقيين-الفاسدين

 

Baghdad / Obelisk: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed, on Saturday, December 7, 2019, that Washington will take measures to punish "the corrupt Iraqis who are plundering the public wealth of their country and targeting peaceful protesters."

Pompeo wrote on his Twitter account: "Today, we are taking steps to fulfill the pledge to use our legal powers to punish corrupt Iraqis who steal the public wealth of their country and target peaceful protesters."

He added: Iraqi political leaders and government officials should make Iraq first.

[6ly410]

 

[Butifldrm]

Iraqis protest to defy 'slaughter' in Baghdad as drone hits cleric's home

 

Demonstrators carry a large banner that says in Arabic ‘peaceful, not destructive’ as they take part in an anti-government demonstration in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square on December 6, 2019. (AFP)

Updated 7 sec ago

AFP

December 07, 201909:23

700

 

A drone dropped a bomb on the home of Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr in the shrine city of Najaf early Saturday but he was not in the country

 

Iraqi President Barham Salih said criminal gangs were behind the killing of demonstrators on Friday

 

 

BAGHDAD: Thousands attended angry protests in Baghdad and southern Iraq Saturday, grieving but defiant after 20 of them were killed in an attack the previous day that demonstrators described as "slaughter".
The protest movement faced another worrying turn on Saturday after an armed drone targeted the home of Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr, an attack his office said could lead to "civil war."
The dramatic developments have threatened to derail the anti-government rallies rocking Iraq since October, the largest and deadliest grassroots movement in decades.
Late Friday, at least 20 protesters were killed or sustained wounds that later proved fatal, while dozens more were injured, when unidentified gunmen attacked a large building where protesters had camped out for weeks, medics said.
Four police officers also died, the medics said, with witnesses saying gunshots were fired in the dark from atop the building towards Al-Sinek, where security forces are stationed.
The toll rose throughout the day on Saturday as wounded demonstrators and police officers died in hospital.
The violence pushed the protest toll past 450 dead and to nearly 20,000 wounded, according to an AFP tally compiled from medics, police and a national rights commission.
Under stormy skies, young men in central Baghdad prayed over an Iraqi flag to mourn those who died the previous night, sobbing heavily.
Small clusters of protesters stood near the charred parking complex that was attacked, as larger crowds flocked to nearby Tahrir Square.
"They fired intensely, mercilessly on the protesters," one witness told AFP.
"They wouldn't let us evacuate the wounded. It was slaughter."
As night fell on Saturday, protesters feared the same scene would play out again.
"The same type of men who came in last night are back and police are not stopping them," one worried demonstrator told AFP.
Protesters had suspected their movement's legitimacy would be smeared or pushed towards chaos and were particularly wary of any partisan support.
After Friday's attack, large crowds headed to Tahrir in solidarity - many of them apparently members of Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades), headed by Al-Sadr.
The notoriously versatile cleric was one of the main sponsors of the current government but then backed the protests.
He sent his followers into the streets after Friday's attack "to protect protesters," a Saraya source told AFP.
But just a few hours later, Sadr's home in the shrine city of Najaf was hit by an apparent mortar round dropped by a drone, sources from his party told AFP.
"Only the external wall was damaged," one of them said, adding that Al-Sadr was currently in Iran.
Dozens of his supporters flocked to his home on Saturday to show support, waving Iraqi flags and the cleric's picture while chanting, "We are all your soldiers!"
"This is a clear attack that could kindle a war - maybe a civil war - in Iraq. Self-restraint is essential," Sadr's spokesman Salah Al-Obeidi told AFP.
Lawmakers from Sadr's Saeroon, which make up the largest bloc in parliament, called for an emergency session over Friday's violence.
The tensions continued into Saturday, when truckloads of armed men briefly blocked a main road near Tahrir, firing their weapons and shouting, witnesses said.
Army units then deployed on the street.
Further south in Nasiriyah, the usual rallies swelled with crowds also upset over the previous night's developments, an AFP correspondent said.
"We are coming in solidarity with Baghdad," one said.
In Diwaniyah, another protest hotspot, thousands turned out early on Saturday but security forces, too, deployed in larger numbers.
In the first comment on the Friday incident from a senior official, President Barham Saleh called on authorities to "identify the criminals and bring them to justice".
The Kurdistan region's president later described the deaths as "unjustified crimes" and said they were "unacceptable."
The United Nations said "acts of violence that are gang-driven, arising from external loyalties, politically motivated or intended to settle scores, risk placing Iraq on a dangerous trajectory,"
Amnesty International said the attack "raises serious questions as to how heavily-armed gunmen in a fleet of vehicles were seemingly able to pass through Baghdad's checkpoints and inflict such a bloody onslaught."
The country has a complex security apparatus including the military, various police forces and the Hashed Al-Shaabi, a mostly Shiite network including factions backed by Iran.
Tehran's pointman on Iraq, Major General Qasem Soleimani, has been in Baghdad for talks on a new prime minister after Adel Abdel Mahdi's recent resignation.
The US on Friday slammed Soleimani's presence as "a huge violation of Iraqi sovereignty."
It also slapped sanctions on three Iraqi Hashed leaders it accused of involvement in the deadly crackdown.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1595486/middle-east

[horsesoldier]

Geeez......all these folks want is to be rid of a corrupted government, live a decent & prosperous life. They want their country to become an economic hub & the envy of the M.E. 

For this they’re being murdered in the streets with a corrupt government still in charge & foot dragging all the way.

 

By God, there’s going to days of reckoning for all these crooks. . . Someday, somehow punishment will be meted out.