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![]() by AFP Staff Writers Baghdad (AFP) Nov 7, 2021
Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi said he was unhurt and appealed for "calm and restraint" after a drone attack on his residence early Sunday as political tensions mounted in the country. The attack in Baghdad's Green Zone was the first to target the residence of Kadhemi, who has been in power since May 2020, and came as Iraq's political parties wrangle over who will run the next government. "I'm doing fine, praise be to God, and I call for calm and restraint on the part of everyone for the good of Iraq," Kadhemi wrote on Twitter after what his office called a "failed assassination attempt". The United States swiftly condemned the attack and said it was "relieved to learn the Prime Minister was unharmed". "This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was directed at the heart of the Iraqi state," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. "We are in close touch with the Iraqi security forces charged with upholding Iraq's sovereignty and independence and have offered our assistance as they investigate this attack." A large number of security forces were deployed in and around the heavily-guarded Green Zone, which also hosts the US embassy and is frequently targeted by rocket attacks. On October 31, three rockets fell in Mansour, a neighbouring district, without causing any injuries. - Mounting tensions - The attack came during a period of soaring tensions over the results of the October 10 elections. Preliminary results saw the Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, the political arm of the pro-Iran multi-party Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network, suffer a substantial decline in its parliamentary seats. The group's supporters have denounced the outcome as "fraud". Hundreds of Hashed supporters clashed with police on Friday while protesting near the Green Zone to vent their fury over the result. One protestor died of their injuries in hospital, according to a security source, while a Hashed source said two demonstrators were killed. The health ministry reported 125 injuries, most of them from the security forces. Several hundred supporters of pro-Iranian groups returned to the Green Zone on Saturday to protest. Some burned a portrait of the prime minister, whom they called a "criminal". According to preliminary tallies, the Conquest won around 15 of the 329 seats in parliament last month, down from the 48 it held previously, which made it the second-largest bloc. The big winner this time, with more than 70 seats according to the initial count, was the movement of Moqtada Sadr, a Shiite Muslim preacher who campaigned as a nationalist and critic of Iran. Final election results are expected within weeks.
Pro-Iran camp in fresh Baghdad demo after deadly clash The demonstrations come while Iraq's numerous political parties negotiate to form coalitions and name a new prime minister after the October 10 elections. Preliminary results saw the Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, the political arm of the pro-Iran multi-party Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network, suffer a substantial decline in its parliamentary seats. The group's supporters have denounced the outcome as "fraud" and Iraqi political analyst Ihsan al-Shamari said the pro-Hashed protests are aimed at strengthening its negotiating position during the coalition bargaining process. In a calm atmosphere a day after deadly tensions, Hashed supporters gathered at one of the four entrances to the high-security Green Zone, which is home to government buildings and the US embassy. "No to America!", "No to Fraud!" the demonstrators chanted, as security forces stood by in force. The protesters had brought in tents and sanitary facilities, in a sign of a possible repeat of a sit-in that began on October 19. Others burned a portrait of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, whom they called a "criminal". On Friday there were clashes with police when hundreds of Hashed supporters rallied near the Green Zone to vent their fury over the election result. Demonstrators threw projectiles and blocked access to the Green Zone before they were pushed back by police who fired in the air, a security source said, requesting anonymity. Another security source said a protester died in hospital of his wounds, while the health ministry reported 125 injuries, most of them from the security forces. A leader of the Hezbollah Brigades, one of Hashed's most powerful factions, told AFP on Friday that two demonstrators were killed. On Saturday mourners in the holy Shiite city of Najaf carried two coffins of Hashed supporters they said died in the Baghdad clashes.
US condemns attack on Iraq PM as 'apparent act of terrorism' "We are relieved to learn the prime minister was unharmed. This apparent act of terrorism, which we strongly condemn, was directed at the heart of the Iraqi state," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. "We are in close touch with the Iraqi security forces charged with upholding Iraq's sovereignty and independence and have offered our assistance as they investigate this attack," he added. Khademi called for calm after the attack on his residence in Baghdad's Green Zone, saying he was unhurt. His office characterized the attack as a "failed assassination attempt." Two security sources earlier confirmed the attack in the heavily guarded Green Zone, which also hosts the US embassy and is frequently targeted by rocket attacks. A large number of security forces were deployed in and around the Zone following the attack, according to a security source. The attack came amid soaring political tensions over the results of October 10 elections. Preliminary results of that poll saw the Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, the political arm of the pro-Iran multi-party Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network, suffer a substantial decline in its parliamentary seats. The group's supporters have denounced the outcome as "fraud."
![]() ![]() One killed as Iraq police clash with pro-Iran protesters Baghdad (AFP) Nov 5, 2021 An Iraqi protester was killed and more than 100 people injured Friday as police clashed with demonstrators venting their fury over last month's election result, medical and security sources said. The political arm of the pro-Iran Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network saw its share of parliamentary seats decline substantially in the election, which the group's supporters have denounced as "fraud". On Friday, hundreds of Hashed supporters rallied in Baghdad near the Green Zone, a high-security dis ... read more
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