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Iraq Protesters Confront Security Forces as PM-designate Presents Agenda to Parliament


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CAIRO - Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan Zurfi presented his agenda Saturday to Parliament as government security forces clashed with protesters defying a government-imposed curfew. More than a dozen Iraqi police reportedly were wounded when protesters in Nasiriya threw gasoline bombs at police, who were firing tear gas at them.

A long cortege of vehicles Saturday drove through the streets of the southern city, honking car horns to defy the curfew. Iraqi state TV had earlier showed security forces stopping vehicles and taking the temperatures of drivers to detect coronavirus cases.

Amateur video showed Iraqi security forces shooting at dozens of protesters, who appeared to play cat-and-mouse with them late Friday in the streets of Nasiriya.  Protesters appeared to light fires and throw gasoline bombs in response to government fire and volleys of tear gas. Several dozen police and protesters reportedly were injured.

A young protester complained in an amateur video posted on social media that he had to wear a face mask to stop choking from the heavy rounds of tear gas being fired by security forces.

An anti-government protester walks by a defaced picture of Prime Minister-designate Adnan Al-Zurfi in Tahrir Square, Baghdad,…
FILE - An anti-government protester walks by a defaced picture of Prime Minister-designate Adnan Al-Zurfi in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq, March 19, 2020.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Adnan Zurfi presented his government's expected agenda Saturday to Parliament. It is not clear when Parliament will schedule a debate to approve the new government amid the chaos from the coronavirus crisis. Zurfi has until April 16 to form a new government and present it to parliament for approval.  

Eight pro-Iranian Shi'ite political parties issued a statement Saturday in opposition to Zurfi, claiming he was the "candidate of the CIA." The same eight parties also threatened to attack U.S. forces in Iraq. U.S. coalition forces have handed over a number of bases to the Iraqi military in recent days.

Analysts on Arab media pointed out that Zurfi needed 156 votes in Parliament to win approval for his government. Despite opposition from large Shi'ite blocs, including the Fateh Alliance of Hadi al-Ameri and Dowlat al-Qanoun of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, Zurfi appears to have scattered support from some Shi'ite members of parliament, and overwhelming support from Sunni and Kurdish parties.

Analyst Iyad al-Anbar told Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV that "the Shi'ite camp appears to be divided over Zurfi's nomination, despite the negative noises that they are making about him." He says Zurfi's nomination "may scrape through parliament if just 100 Shi'ite lawmakers support him, given the strong support for him by Sunni and Kurdish MPs."

Zurfi told Sky News Arabia that "Iraq is facing a catastrophe" due to falling global oil prices, "and that it may not be able to pay all government salaries due to the shortfall."  

The government is also facing a major financial drain from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Most of the Iraqi budget comes from oil exports, and oil prices have been at historical lows.

 

https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/iraq-protesters-confront-security-forces-pm-designate-presents-agenda-parliament

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Does Iran control four Arab capitals?

An Iranian cleric once uttered in a reckless statement that Iran controls four Arab capitals, namely: Beirut, Damascus, Sanaa and Baghdad. Many anti-Iran parties held debates on this statement, considering it a reality, and began to warn the world about Iran’s emerging power and future hegemony over the Arab region. I even heard one famous Islamic writer extending an entire political and doctrinal approach on the cleric’s statement.

I wondered about the kind of information on which this mullah based his statement, indicating his political ignorance. I started further examining the political condition of each of the four capitals, seeking to find a suitable ground for the statement of the mullah.

I have been aware for decades that the Arab countries are infiltrated by the US, the British, and the Zionists, as no one has ever tried to loosen these powers’ grip on the region. The collapsed Soviet Union tried to infiltrate the Arab world and compete with the US. However, these attempts were unsuccessful even in countries that adopted the socialist approach, such as Egypt, Algeria and Syria. Thus, the US managed to maintain its dominance over the Arabs, and continued to expand its influence until the present day.

Perhaps, it was not possible to debunk the mullah’s statements at the time, because Iran’s Arab enemies had already controlled the Arab public opinion and strongly adhered to the statement of the delusional sheikh. Thus, refuting the mullah’s statements during that period, was deemed to be considered an act of blasphemy. However, the present stage can pave the way for proceeding with a different dialectic.

In Lebanon, for instance, it is easy for anyone who is willing to delve further into the matter, to see that Beirut is still dominated by the US. It is true that the pro-Iranian Hezbollah have a strong presence in Lebanon, however, the movement does not control Beirut and has no influence on the Lebanese government’s will. In other words, Hezbollah cannot dictate the government’s actions in accordance with its preferences or the Iranian agenda, and the proof is that the US prevented Lebanon from accepting Iran’s offer to arm the Lebanese military forces.

The most prominent evidence of the US’ hegemony over Lebanon is the case of Amer Al-Fakhoury, who was released from a Lebanese prison due to pressures exerted by the US on the Lebanese political decision makers and judiciary. The US did not hesitate to send a helicopter to Awkar, Beirut (the location of the US embassy’s headquarters) to transport Al-Fakhoury to the US. As such, Trump thanked Lebanon for cooperating to release the most prominent Lebanese spy of the Zionist entity, who brutally tortured Lebanese detainees in Khiam Detention Centre, and killed some of them under torture. This is not to mention the US’ interference in Lebanese economic affairs.

Opinion: Israel needs the Arab world to be ruled by dictators

If Hezbollah has a role in running Lebanese politics, its influence is primarily limited to preventing Lebanon from sliding toward the Zionist entity, as some fallen Arab regimes have done, as well as defending Lebanon in the face of Zionist aspirations. Hezbollah would also remain as a guard to Lebanon against the attacks of others, yet we do not expect it to achieve beyond its capabilities.

As for Iraq, the issue is no longer a secret, after the reported US military and intelligence activities in the media. The Iraqi land is like a stage for the US, as they establish military bases, deploy their soldiers and reposition their military forces. In addition, the US president often visited his country’s forces in Iraq without informing the Iraqi president, and the US warplanes and helicopters flew over the Iraqi Republican Palace and assassinated Iraqis and non-Iraqis on Iraqi land, while the Iraqi officials remained polite and did not protest. It was only during this period that the media started talking about US air traffic over Baghdad and the entire Iraqi airspace. The US is occupying Iraq and dominating Iraqi land.

There are organisations in Iraq that are allied with Iran and are receiving military support from it, but they do not run and direct the country. These organisations are now trying to attack the US, especially with missile power. In contrast, the Iraqi government is not committed to the same intentions, meaning that Iran does not control Baghdad, but rather the US.

For many people, it is permissible for the US, yet not for other countries, especially that the US component has become part of their psychological structure, and they have become impatient about its absence.

As for Syria, the US remains there, controlling the Syrian oil wells and roaming the eastern region, with their aircraft flying in Syrian airspace with comfort and reassurance. The presence of some Iranian and Russian forces in Syria has not yet affected the US’ insistence on remaining in Syria, while Sanaa is busy defending its purebred Arabian horses.

 

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200404-does-iran-control-four-arab-capitals/

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Sadr Alliance sends a message to Al-Zorfi and waves of refusing him

 
Iraq News Sadr Alliance Adnan Al-Zorfi Raad Al-Maksousi Iraqi Prime Minister

2020/04/04 05:30:17

Shafaq News / Alliance Towards Reforms close to the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr waved not to give confidence to Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zorfi if he surrenders to parties’ interests.

"Many parties and political blocs are searching for their interests, achieving their personal goals, and obtaining political gains in the next government," Raad Al-Maksousi, a member of the Alliance told Shafaq News.

He added that "Others will refuse to give confidence to the Prime Minister-designate Adnan Al-Zorfi in the parliament if he surrenders to the demands and interests of political parties."

Al-Maksousi called on the Prime Minister-designate to "not to surrender to the demands of political parties and blocs and to form his government from independent and competent personalities that he finds appropriate in the cabinet."

Earlier today, the Prime Minister-designate, Adnan Al-Zorfi has sent the ministerial curriculum to the Iraqi parliamentarian to vote on his government.

Al-Zorfi said on Friday that he will submit his government program to parliament on Saturday, with a request to set the date for the session to grant confidence to his government.

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جميع الحقوق محفوظة © copyright 2019 - مؤسسة شفق للثقافة والاعلام

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Protesters clash with security forces as Zurfi hands agenda to parl't

20191001_2_38503813_48075726

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan Zurfi presented his agenda Saturday to Parliament as governmentsecurity forces clashed with protesters defying a government-imposed curfew, Voice of America reported.

More than a dozen Iraqi police reportedly were wounded when protesters in Nasiriya threw gasoline bombs at police, who were firing tear gas at them.

A long cortege of vehicles Saturday drove through the streets of the southern city, honking car horns to defy the curfew. Iraqi state TV had earlier showed security forces stopping vehicles and taking the temperatures of drivers to detect coronavirus cases.

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