Iraq Premier announces resignation

Under the pressure of the week-long protests, with more than 400 dead in Iraq, Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi announced his resignation. He will ask the Parliament in a letter to his resignation, said the 77-year-old head of government on Friday.

Previously, had called on the influential Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani, the Parliament dismiss the government. Among the protesters on Tahrir square in Baghdad, cheers broke out, but in the South of Iraq, the violence lasted for more.

The resignation of Abdel Mahdi takes place after an escalation of violence. With 46 dead of the Thursday was the bloodiest day since the beginning of the protests in October. It is the biggest protest movement since the fall from power of Saddam Hussein in 2003. In the night from Wednesday to Thursday the situation became more than protesters out of anger over the support of Tehran for Abdel Mahdi, the Iranian Consulate in Najaf is on fire.

in the face of the massive violence called al-Sistani in his Friday sermon, the deputies should act "in the interest of Iraq, in order to preserve the blood of his children, and to prevent it from slipping into violence, Chaos and destruction." The 89-year-old Shiite Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani enjoys great Reputation among the believers in Iraq and has a significant influence on the political parties of the country.

The Opposition from the supporters of Ex-head of government of Haidar al-Abadi and the Shia preacher, Moktada al-Sadr declared themselves immediately prepared to deprive the government of the trust. Al-Abadi requested for Saturday, a special session of the Parliament. The Fatah-Block, which is the political Arm of the Pro-Iranian Hasched-al-Schaabi militias, expressed its support for "necessary changes".

jubilation on Tahrir square in Baghdad

The resignation announcement of Abdel Mahdi was welcomed on Tahrir square with cheers and Patriotic music. "This is our first victory and we will have many more," said a protester.

Also in Nasiriya, where on Thursday 28 protesters had been killed, was celebrated the announcement. The 21-year-old Student, Ali Hussein said it was "an important step, even if it comes late and we have a very experienced bloody days".

Also on Friday, the violence in southern Iraq lasted. Seven protesters were killed in Nasiriya, the police, when they attacked a police station, eye witnesses and Doctors said. Men in civilian clothes shot and killed a further man in the Holy city of Najaf. Thousands of people carried the coffins of the 16 protesters to the grave, which had been killed after the storming of the Iranian Consulate.

since October, the ongoing protests against corruption, Clientelism and mismanagement in Baghdad and the South of the country, meanwhile, more than 400 people were killed and over 15,000 injured. The protesters are demanding a new government without representatives of established parties. The resignation of the non-party politician, Abdel Mahdi, was only a year ago, to Power, would hardly have pleased them.

"bloodbath" in Nasiriya

After the week-long protests, the government had decided on Thursday, apparently to put them with violence. Abdel Mahdi has sent several military commanders in the South of Iraq to "restore order". Police in southern Iraq said they had received after the storming of the Iranian Consulate in Najaf, the statement that the protests finally knock down.

After the violence in Nasiriya, the General in charge was deducted again. Also, the local Governor resigned. The human rights organisation Amnesty International spoke of a "bloodbath" in Nasiriya. Eye witnesses told Amnesty that security forces had opened early in the Morning without warning fire on demonstrators who blocked a bridge and had fired on incessantly. (Dec/sda)

Created: 29.11.2019, 14:07 PM