Iraq’s prime minister agrees to resign, president says, after weeks of protests
5 years, 2 months ago

Iraq’s prime minister agrees to resign, president says, after weeks of protests

CNN  

CNN — Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has agreed to resign after weeks of anti-government protests that led to hundreds of casualties, Iraq’s president announced Thursday. In a televised speech to the nation on Iraq’s Al-Iraqiya TV, President Barham Salih said Abdul Mahdi had agreed to step down on the condition that a successor is agreed to replace him. “The prime minister has agreed to resign,” Salih said, adding that Abdul Mahdi had asked “political blocs to reach an acceptable alternative” in order “to prevent a vacuum.” Iraqi students and professors take part in ongoing anti-government protests in the central city of Diwaniyah on October 31. HAIDAR HAMDANI/AFP via Getty Images One of Iraq’s leading Shiite clerics and most powerful politicians, Muqtada al-Sadr, had called on other parties Tuesday to back his push for a no-confidence vote in Abdul Mahdi.

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History of this topic

Iraq's PM urges Trump to 'work towards ending' crisis in the Middle East
2 months ago

Iraq's PM urges Trump to 'work towards ending' crisis in the Middle East

Firstpost  

In the phone call, the Iraqi premier pointed to Trump’s ‘campaign statements and promises to work towards ending wars in the region’, a statement from Sudani’s office said late Friday Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed hopes during a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump that he would keep his “promises to work towards ending wars” in the …

Iraqi PM urges Trump to 'work towards ending' Mideast wars
2 months ago

Iraqi PM urges Trump to 'work towards ending' Mideast wars

New Indian Express  

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed hopes during a phone call with US President-elect Donald Trump that he would keep his "promises to work towards ending wars" in the Middle East. In the phone call, the Iraqi premier pointed to Trump's "campaign statements and promises to work towards ending wars in the region", a statement from Sudani's office said …

New Iraqi PM hopes to continue fostering Iran-Saudi dialogue
2 years, 2 months ago

New Iraqi PM hopes to continue fostering Iran-Saudi dialogue

Associated Press  

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s new Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Tuesday that he hopes to continue hosting talks in Iraq between regional arch-enemies Saudi Arabia and Iran during his tenure. Al-Sudani’s government is the first in Iraq since 2005 that does not include seats from the political bloc of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. In Tuesday’s remarks, al-Sudani promised to …

Iraqi parliament approves new Cabinet in long-awaited vote
2 years, 2 months ago

Iraqi parliament approves new Cabinet in long-awaited vote

Associated Press  

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s parliament gave its vote of confidence to a new Cabinet on Thursday, breaking a yearlong political stalemate. On Oct. 13, Iraqi lawmakers elected former minister Abdul Latif Rashid president, following a barrage of rocket attacks earlier in the day, in a first step toward naming a new government. “I expect that street protests will begin if this …

Iraq’s parliament approves new government
2 years, 2 months ago

Iraq’s parliament approves new government

Al Jazeera  

After more than a year of political deadlock, Iraq will be ushering in a new government led by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, 52, who previously served as Iraq’s human rights minister as well as minister of labour and social affairs, will head the new government. “The government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has obtained the …

Clashes erupt after Iraqi Shiite cleric resigns, 15 dead
2 years, 4 months ago

Clashes erupt after Iraqi Shiite cleric resigns, 15 dead

Associated Press  

BAGHDAD — An influential Shiite cleric announced Monday that he would resign from Iraqi politics, prompting hundreds of his angry followers to storm the government palace and sparking clashes with security forces. During Monday’s clashes, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr gathered in the capital’s Tahrir Square to “protect” protesters, one of its commanders said. Iraq’s military swiftly called …

Analysis: Is Muqtada al-Sadr’s retirement announcement a tactic?
2 years, 4 months ago

Analysis: Is Muqtada al-Sadr’s retirement announcement a tactic?

Al Jazeera  

When the Shia spiritual leader Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri announced last week that he would step down as a religious authority, Muqtada al-Sadr realised that he was facing a challenge to his own standing within the Shia community in Iraq. Following the announcement, al-Sadr’s supporters, who largely come from the outskirts of the Iraqi capital, roamed Baghdad and entered the presidential …

Photos: Fighting between rival Iraqi forces erupts in Baghdad
2 years, 4 months ago

Photos: Fighting between rival Iraqi forces erupts in Baghdad

Al Jazeera  

Fighting between rival Iraqi forces is raging for a second day, with rocket fire echoing from Baghdad’s Green Zone – where 30 people have been killed, according to medical sources. The violence began after powerful Shia religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr announced on Monday that he would resign from Iraqi politics, prompting hundreds of his angry followers to storm the government …

Clashes Erupt After Iraqi Shiite Cleric Resigns, 15 Dead
2 years, 4 months ago

Clashes Erupt After Iraqi Shiite Cleric Resigns, 15 Dead

Huff Post  

Iraqi security forces fire tear gas on the followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr inside the government Palace, Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. Al-Sadr, a hugely influential Shiite cleric announced he will resign from Iraqi politics and his angry followers stormed the government palace in response. via Associated Press BAGHDAD — An influential Shiite cleric announced Monday that he …

Rival Shia groups square off over Iraq leadership vacuum
2 years, 4 months ago

Rival Shia groups square off over Iraq leadership vacuum

Al Jazeera  

Thousands of Moqtada al-Sadr’s followers prayed outside parliament in a show of support for the populist leader who has called on the judiciary to dissolve parliament by the end of next week. Rival Iraqi factions took to the streets of Baghdad to call for a new government with supporters of religious scholar Moqtada al-Sadr demanding early elections and his Iran-backed …

Iraqi cleric calls for dissolution of parliament, early vote
2 years, 5 months ago

Iraqi cleric calls for dissolution of parliament, early vote

Associated Press  

BAGHDAD — Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told followers Wednesday to continue their sit-in inside Iraq’s government zone, and called for the dissolution of parliament and early elections, signaling a deepening power struggle with his rivals. Speaking for the first time since thousands of his followers stormed the parliament building in Baghdad on Saturday, al-Sadr said the “revolutionaries” must stay …

Hundreds of protesters camp at Iraq parliament for a second day
2 years, 5 months ago

Hundreds of protesters camp at Iraq parliament for a second day

Al Jazeera  

Supporters of Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr erect tents and prepare for a long sit-in to protest against efforts by his rivals to form a government. Supporters of powerful Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr have erected tents and are preparing for a long sit-in at Iraq’s parliament, deepening a months-long political standoff. Supporters of al-Sadr, who once led a militia against …

Explained: Why did protesters storm Iraq’s Parliament?
2 years, 5 months ago

Explained: Why did protesters storm Iraq’s Parliament?

Firstpost  

Iraq held elections in October last year but has been unable to form a government yet. After a pro-Iran politician was nominated to be Iraq’s new prime minister, followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Parliament Baghdad: The followers of the influential populist Shiite cleric came by the thousands to storm Iraq’s Parliament. Mass mobilisation and control is …

Iraqi protesters break into parliament denouncing the nomination of new premier
2 years, 5 months ago

Iraqi protesters break into parliament denouncing the nomination of new premier

CNN  

Baghdad, Iraq CNN — Hundreds of angry protesters loyal to the powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr broke into Baghdad’s heavily protected Green Zone on Wednesday, denouncing the nomination of a new prime minister. Iraq has struggled to form a new government since parliamentary elections in October; Sadr’s own attempts to form a government have previously foundered amid opposition from rival blocs. …

Iraqi Shia leader al-Sadr withdraws from political process
2 years, 6 months ago

Iraqi Shia leader al-Sadr withdraws from political process

Al Jazeera  

Muqtada al-Sadr says he ‘will not participate in the next elections if the corrupt participate’. Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr said he has decided to withdraw from the political process to avoid involvement with “corrupt” politicians, the state news agency reported. It was a huge gamble by al-Sadr, one of the most influential politicians in Iraq with a large street …

Sadrists quit Iraq’s parliament, but al-Sadr isn’t going away
2 years, 6 months ago

Sadrists quit Iraq’s parliament, but al-Sadr isn’t going away

Al Jazeera  

The Sadrist bloc’s resignation from parliament throws up a number of scenarios, including new elections in Iraq. Baghdad, Iraq – After nearly eight months of the Iraqi parliament’s repeated failure to form a government, influential Shia religious leader – and the biggest winner of Iraq’s October parliamentary elections – Muqtada al-Sadr decided enough was enough. “Don’t expect a government formed …

Lawmakers from Iraq’s biggest bloc resign amid impasse
2 years, 6 months ago

Lawmakers from Iraq’s biggest bloc resign amid impasse

Associated Press  

BAGHDAD — Dozens of lawmakers who make up the biggest bloc in Iraq’s parliament resigned on Sunday amid a prolonged political impasse, plunging the divided nation into political uncertainty. The 73 lawmakers from powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc submitted their resignation based on his request, to protest a persisting political deadlock eight months after general elections were held. The …

Iraqi MPs from Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc resign
2 years, 6 months ago

Iraqi MPs from Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc resign

Al Jazeera  

Al-Sadr had urged the lawmakers from his bloc to resign in order to create space for the establishment of a new government. Iraqi lawmakers from firebrand Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc resigned on Sunday, the parliamentary speaker said, a move ostensibly designed to end eight months of political paralysis. “We have reluctantly accepted the requests of our brothers and sisters, …

Iraq’s supreme court ratifies contested election results
3 years ago

Iraq’s supreme court ratifies contested election results

CNN  

CNN — Iraq’s Supreme Court has ratified the results of October’s parliamentary election, dealing a blow to Iran-backed factions who have staged protests against the outcome of the vote. The election was called several months early in an attempt to bring some stability to the nation, rocked by mass anti-corruption protests in 2019 that toppled the government of former Prime …

Iraqi Shia leader al-Sadr says will not take part in October vote
3 years, 5 months ago

Iraqi Shia leader al-Sadr says will not take part in October vote

Al Jazeera  

Muqtada al-Sadr says he is withdrawing support from the current government and the one that will be elected to replace it. Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has announced he will not take part in Iraq’s upcoming election in October, saying he is withdrawing his support from the current government and the one that will be elected to replace it. Addressing the …

US rejects Iraq request to discuss troop withdrawal
5 years ago

US rejects Iraq request to discuss troop withdrawal

Al Jazeera  

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi made the request in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday. Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, made his request in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo late on Thursday in line with a vote by Iraq’s parliament last week, his office said in a …

U.S. dismisses Iraq request to withdraw troops, saying American presence there is crucial
5 years ago

U.S. dismisses Iraq request to withdraw troops, saying American presence there is crucial

LA Times  

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, shown in 2018, appears to be standing by his previous statements that U.S troops should leave Iraq despite recent signals toward de-escalation between Tehran and Washington. Iraq’s caretaker prime minister asked Washington to start working out a road map for an American troop withdrawal, but the U.S. State Department on Friday bluntly rejected the request, …

Iraqi parliament calls for expulsion of foreign troops
5 years ago

Iraqi parliament calls for expulsion of foreign troops

Al Jazeera  

Vote comes after PM Abdul Mahdi recommended Parliament take urgent measures to expel foreign troops from Iraq. Ahead of the vote, chants of “No, no, America…long live Iraq”, rang out inside the hall, before Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi also called on parliament to end foreign troop presence. “Iraq has two options”, he said, adding that the country can …

Iraq president threatens to quit over PM nominee
5 years ago

Iraq president threatens to quit over PM nominee

Al Jazeera  

Barham Salih says he would rather resign than name Iran-backed bloc’s nominee as PM. Iraqi President Barham Salih has refused to designate the nominee of an Iran-backed parliamentary bloc for prime minister, saying he would rather resign than appoint someone to the position who would be rejected by protesters. The Iranian-backed Binaa bloc, the largest in Iraq’s Parliament, had nominated …

Iraq: Iran-backed bloc nominates Basra governor as PM
5 years ago

Iraq: Iran-backed bloc nominates Basra governor as PM

Al Jazeera  

Protesters reject nomination of Asaad al-Eidani, saying he ‘represents political system we want overhauled’. An Iranian-backed bloc in Iraq’s parliament on Wednesday nominated Asaad al-Eidani, the governor of the southern province of Basra, as the new prime minister, a move rejected by many protesters who demand a complete overhaul of the political system. “As the largest parliamentary bloc according to …

Iran consulate in Iraq burns a 3rd time, amid premier talks
5 years, 1 month ago

Iran consulate in Iraq burns a 3rd time, amid premier talks

Associated Press  

BAGHDAD — Anti-government protesters burned an Iranian consulate in southern Iraq for a third time on Tuesday, as the country’s political leaders continued talks over selecting a new prime minister following weeks of widespread unrest. President Barham Salih met with Iraq’s main political blocs as a 15-day constitutional deadline to name the next prime minister nears, two Iraqi officials said. …

Adel Abdul Mahdi, an Iraqi prime minister ‘doomed to fail’
5 years, 1 month ago

Adel Abdul Mahdi, an Iraqi prime minister ‘doomed to fail’

Al Jazeera  

PM’s exit likely to end his political career but not ‘dysfunctional system’ that brought him to power, analysts say. Iraq’s parliament on Sunday accepted the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi after weeks of huge protests demanding better economic conditions and an overhaul of the country’s political system. At the start of the unrest, Abdul Mahdi said there …

Iraqi PM Abdul Mahdi submits resignation to parliament
5 years, 1 month ago

Iraqi PM Abdul Mahdi submits resignation to parliament

Al Jazeera  

Parliament to meet on Sunday to decide on Iraqi PM’s fate amid continuing anti-government protests. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi submitted his resignation to parliament amid continuing anti-government protests in the capital Baghdad and in southern Iraq. In a pre-recorded speech, Abdul Mahdi said if the parliament accepted his resignation, the cabinet would be demoted to caretaker status, unable …

Iraqi PM formally submits resignation amid more violence
5 years, 1 month ago

Iraqi PM formally submits resignation amid more violence

Associated Press  

BAGHDAD — Three anti-government protesters were shot dead and at least 58 others wounded in Baghdad and southern Iraq on Saturday, security and medical officials said, as Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi formally submitted his resignation to parliament. The prime minister announced Friday he would hand parliament his resignation amid mounting pressure from mass anti-government protests, a day after more than …

Iraq PM resignation would only be ‘first step’, protesters say
5 years, 1 month ago

Iraq PM resignation would only be ‘first step’, protesters say

Al Jazeera  

Baghdad, Iraq – Baghdad’s Tahrir Square broke out in celebration minutes after Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi announced he will submit his resignation to parliament after weeks of deadly anti-government protests. ‘Great first step’ “The premier’s offer to resign is a great first step and we’re extremely elated to receive this news,” Mustafa, 24, told Al Jazeera as he …

Iraqi PM to resign after deadly anti-government protests
5 years, 1 month ago

Iraqi PM to resign after deadly anti-government protests

Al Jazeera  

Adel Abdul Mahdi to submit resignation to Iraq’s parliament after top Shia leader calls for change. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has said he will submit his resignation to the country’s parliament after a day of intense bloodshed amid mass anti-government demonstrations. Abdul Mahdi’s decision, announced in a statement on Friday, came in response to a call for a …

Iraq on edge after al-Sadr calls for removal of prime minister amid protests
5 years, 2 months ago

Iraq on edge after al-Sadr calls for removal of prime minister amid protests

CNN  

CNN — One of Iraq’s leading Shiite clerics and powerful politicians has called on other parties to back him in removing Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi after weeks of protests. Muqtada al-Sadr, who leads the largest political block in parliament, invited Iraq’s second largest party on Tuesday to cooperate with him in “immediately” holding a vote of no confidence in …

This is what happened when I met Haider al-Abadi, the former – and possibly future – prime minister of Iraq
5 years, 8 months ago

This is what happened when I met Haider al-Abadi, the former – and possibly future – prime minister of Iraq

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Generally the US administration had this …

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