Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Iraqi parliament urges Syria to cancel visa requirements
Regional
(Voices of Iraq) - The Iraqi parliament urged Syria on Tuesday to cancel its decision to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria, while Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent a senior official to Damascus to discuss this question.
"The parliament called on Syria during its first session of the second legislative term the Syrian government to cancel the visa requirement to be imposed on Iraqi nationals as of September 10," Member of the parliament Abdul Khaleq Zangana, the head of the displaced committee, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The Iraqi government is obliged to find a solution for the current crises facing the Iraqi refugees abroad," he also said, calling on the government and the U.N. Higher Commissioner for Refugees to take a quick action to solve the problem. The Syrian government decided last Thursday to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria as of September 10.
"The Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed al-Moualim informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari by telephone that his country decided to impose a visa requirement as of September 10, 2007, on Iraqi nationals seeking entry to Syria for economic, commercial and scientific purposes, and asked for the Iraqi government cooperation in this respect," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said last Thursday.
The move is seen as an attempt by Syria, home to as many as 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, to reduce the flow of more than 30,000 Iraqi refugees every month. The MP said that the parliament sent a number of lawmakers to talk with the Syrian government in an attempt to cancel the decision, urging the Iraqi government to adopt measures to help Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iraqi government Ali al-Dabagh told VOI "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent a senior envoy to Syria to avoid the negative repercussions of that decision on the Iraqi refugees."
Syria is one of the easiest countries for Iraqis to visit because they can stay up to six months then simply leave any border crossing and re-enter the country the same day to have a new six months' stay permit. It was unclear how the rules would affect Iraqis who try to enter Syria simply to take refuge.
Syria and Jordan host the largest number of the more than 2 million displaced Iraqis and both governments complain of the increasing burdens on their health and education infrastructures. Jordan has made it more difficult to Iraqis to enter in the past to help reduce the flow. During a visit to Syria last month, al-Maliki pledged to help Syria on the increasing flow of refugees from Iraq, most of them are living in the capital, Damascus, and the suburbs. Diplomatic relations were restored between Iraq and Syria in 2006.
"The parliament called on Syria during its first session of the second legislative term the Syrian government to cancel the visa requirement to be imposed on Iraqi nationals as of September 10," Member of the parliament Abdul Khaleq Zangana, the head of the displaced committee, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The Iraqi government is obliged to find a solution for the current crises facing the Iraqi refugees abroad," he also said, calling on the government and the U.N. Higher Commissioner for Refugees to take a quick action to solve the problem. The Syrian government decided last Thursday to impose a visa requirement on Iraqis seeking entering Syria as of September 10.
"The Syrian Foreign Minister Waleed al-Moualim informed his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zibari by telephone that his country decided to impose a visa requirement as of September 10, 2007, on Iraqi nationals seeking entry to Syria for economic, commercial and scientific purposes, and asked for the Iraqi government cooperation in this respect," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said last Thursday.
The move is seen as an attempt by Syria, home to as many as 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, to reduce the flow of more than 30,000 Iraqi refugees every month. The MP said that the parliament sent a number of lawmakers to talk with the Syrian government in an attempt to cancel the decision, urging the Iraqi government to adopt measures to help Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iraqi government Ali al-Dabagh told VOI "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki sent a senior envoy to Syria to avoid the negative repercussions of that decision on the Iraqi refugees."
Syria is one of the easiest countries for Iraqis to visit because they can stay up to six months then simply leave any border crossing and re-enter the country the same day to have a new six months' stay permit. It was unclear how the rules would affect Iraqis who try to enter Syria simply to take refuge.
Syria and Jordan host the largest number of the more than 2 million displaced Iraqis and both governments complain of the increasing burdens on their health and education infrastructures. Jordan has made it more difficult to Iraqis to enter in the past to help reduce the flow. During a visit to Syria last month, al-Maliki pledged to help Syria on the increasing flow of refugees from Iraq, most of them are living in the capital, Damascus, and the suburbs. Diplomatic relations were restored between Iraq and Syria in 2006.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Iraqi refugees, Syria, visas, Waleed al-Moualim
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Iraqi parliament reconvenes after break
Politics
(AP) -- Iraq's parliament reconvened Tuesday after a monthlong summer break but it was not immediately clear whether it would be taking up key benchmark legislation demanded by Washington. Parliament in July shrugged off calls from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to cancel, or at least shorten, the traditional summer pause saying after putting the break off for a month that there was no point waiting any longer for the premier to deliver the legislation.
The session opened with 158 members of 275 present - enough to form quorum, but the agenda was not immediately announced. The American commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker are due in Washington to report to Congress next week on progress in Iraq since the introduction of 30,000 more American troops, including whether advances are being made toward national reconciliation.
While parliament was in recess, al-Maliki attempted to break the impasse with major Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders in a high-level meeting just over a week ago. It brought al-Maliki together fellow Shiite Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, Sunni Arab Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, the head of the northern autonomous Kurdish region Massoud Barzani and President Jalal Talabani, who is also a Kurd.
They said they agreed in principle on some issues that the U.S. has set as benchmarks for progress, among them holding provincial elections, releasing prisoners held without charge and changing the law preventing many former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from holding government jobs and elected office. But no details were released and committees must hash out final versions of legislation to be presented to parliament. Iraqi officials have announced similar deals in the past, only to have them fall apart.
On Monday, however, al-Maliki said the de-Baathification draft law - one of the U.S.'s 18 benchmarks - was ready and would be soon be taken to parliament. "I believe that the parliament ... will approve it," he said.
The session opened with 158 members of 275 present - enough to form quorum, but the agenda was not immediately announced. The American commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker are due in Washington to report to Congress next week on progress in Iraq since the introduction of 30,000 more American troops, including whether advances are being made toward national reconciliation.
While parliament was in recess, al-Maliki attempted to break the impasse with major Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders in a high-level meeting just over a week ago. It brought al-Maliki together fellow Shiite Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, Sunni Arab Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, the head of the northern autonomous Kurdish region Massoud Barzani and President Jalal Talabani, who is also a Kurd.
They said they agreed in principle on some issues that the U.S. has set as benchmarks for progress, among them holding provincial elections, releasing prisoners held without charge and changing the law preventing many former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from holding government jobs and elected office. But no details were released and committees must hash out final versions of legislation to be presented to parliament. Iraqi officials have announced similar deals in the past, only to have them fall apart.
On Monday, however, al-Maliki said the de-Baathification draft law - one of the U.S.'s 18 benchmarks - was ready and would be soon be taken to parliament. "I believe that the parliament ... will approve it," he said.
Labels: Iraqi parliament
Monday, September 03, 2007
Draft law could ease restrictions on Baathists
Politics
(Reuters) - An Iraqi draft law has been submitted to parliament to ease curbs on former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party joining the civil service and military, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Monday. The draft is one of the benchmarks set by the United States to foster reconciliation between warring majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni Arabs.
Many Baath party members were Sunnis who now feel persecuted by Maliki's Shi'ite-led government. Maliki told a news conference the draft was discussed by a committee of political parties and said he felt the "parliament, which represents the political powers that participated in this discussion, will approve it". Lawmakers return to parliament on Tuesday after a month-long recess, but it was unclear when they would begin debating the draft debaathification law.
On Aug. 26, Iraq's top five Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders including Maliki agreed on the draft legislation. But the measure -- as it has for many months -- is likely to face opposition from within the ruling Shi'ite Alliance and the committee tasked with purging Baathists from the government. Iraqi officials have said the Aug. 26 deal on the draft law was a sign of progress ahead of reports to be presented to the U.S. Congress next week.
The U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker will testify on Iraq's security and political situation on Sept. 10. Their assessments could prompt a shift in U.S. President George W. Bush's Iraq policy amid calls from opposition Democrats and some senior Republicans for U.S. troops to start leaving Iraq because of the lack of political progress. The Iraqi government has yet to present other key draft laws, including legislation that aims to equitably share Iraq's vast oil wealth among its different sects and ethnic groups.
Many Baath party members were Sunnis who now feel persecuted by Maliki's Shi'ite-led government. Maliki told a news conference the draft was discussed by a committee of political parties and said he felt the "parliament, which represents the political powers that participated in this discussion, will approve it". Lawmakers return to parliament on Tuesday after a month-long recess, but it was unclear when they would begin debating the draft debaathification law.
On Aug. 26, Iraq's top five Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders including Maliki agreed on the draft legislation. But the measure -- as it has for many months -- is likely to face opposition from within the ruling Shi'ite Alliance and the committee tasked with purging Baathists from the government. Iraqi officials have said the Aug. 26 deal on the draft law was a sign of progress ahead of reports to be presented to the U.S. Congress next week.
The U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker will testify on Iraq's security and political situation on Sept. 10. Their assessments could prompt a shift in U.S. President George W. Bush's Iraq policy amid calls from opposition Democrats and some senior Republicans for U.S. troops to start leaving Iraq because of the lack of political progress. The Iraqi government has yet to present other key draft laws, including legislation that aims to equitably share Iraq's vast oil wealth among its different sects and ethnic groups.
Labels: Baathists, Iraqi parliament
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Accord Front withdraws from parliament
Politics
(RFE/RL) - The main Sunni Arab political bloc today said it is withdrawing from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's coalition government over his failure to meet a list of demands. Legislators told a Baghdad press conference that the six ministers of the Accordance Front will submit their resignations today, after they suspended their participation in government last week.
The ministers resigning are: Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zoubaie; Culture Minister Asaad Kamal al-Hashemi; Higher Education Minister Abd Dhiab al-Ajili; Planning Minister Ali Baban; State Minister for Women's Affairs Fatin Abd al-Rahman Mahmud; and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Rafi al-Isawi.
The Accordance Front had demanded a greater say in security matters, and had accused al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led coalition of failing to consult it on key issues. "It has been obvious that the government is sticking to its arrogant stand and is still insisting on closing all the doors on any reforms necessary for saving Iraq," party spokesman Muhannad al-Issawi said today at a news conference in Baghdad.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih today told the Reuters news agency that the bloc's withdrawal "is probably the most serious political crisis we have faced since the passage of the constitution."
The Accordance Front had demanded a greater say in security matters, and had accused al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led coalition of failing to consult it on key issues. "It has been obvious that the government is sticking to its arrogant stand and is still insisting on closing all the doors on any reforms necessary for saving Iraq," party spokesman Muhannad al-Issawi said today at a news conference in Baghdad.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih today told the Reuters news agency that the bloc's withdrawal "is probably the most serious political crisis we have faced since the passage of the constitution."
COMMENT: This does not bode well, particularly at a time when the country requires political unity and equal representation. The constitution, the draft oil law and the referendum of Kirkuk (Article 140) are all current topics that require input from the Sunnis. Without the IAF, there will not be enough votes from the remaining Sunni parties on important issues and the Sunni political role will only be slightly stronger than after January 30 2005 when most Sunni Arabs boycotted the elections for Iraq's National Assembly. Since then, it has been a long and painful process to bring the Sunnis to the political table. This will also further undermine al-Maliki's government. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi parliament, Muhannad al-Issawi, resignation, Tawafoq Iraqi Front, withdrawal
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sadrists end parliament boycott
Politics
(Reuters) - The political bloc of fiery Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Tuesday it had resumed participation in Iraq's parliament, suspended last month in protest over an attack on a revered Shi'ite mosque. "Starting from today, we have ended our suspension to the parliament. We are back," Nassar al-Rubaei, spokesman for the bloc in parliament, told Reuters.
The movement holds 30 of parliament's 275 seats and also accounts for a quarter of the seats in the ruling Shi'ite Alliance of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The Sadrist bloc withdrew from parliament on June 13 after the destruction of the twin minarets of the Golden Mosque in Samarra by suspected al Qaeda militants. It complained that Maliki's government had not done enough to protect the shrine.
Rubaei said the bloc ended its boycott after the parliament responded to its demands on pressing the government to protect shrines. The bloc also pulled its six ministers from Maliki's cabinet in April in protest at his failure to set a deadline for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
The movement holds 30 of parliament's 275 seats and also accounts for a quarter of the seats in the ruling Shi'ite Alliance of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The Sadrist bloc withdrew from parliament on June 13 after the destruction of the twin minarets of the Golden Mosque in Samarra by suspected al Qaeda militants. It complained that Maliki's government had not done enough to protect the shrine.
Rubaei said the bloc ended its boycott after the parliament responded to its demands on pressing the government to protect shrines. The bloc also pulled its six ministers from Maliki's cabinet in April in protest at his failure to set a deadline for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Nassar al-Rubaie, Sadrists
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Parliament debate on draft oil law unlikely to go smoothly
Oil
(Reuters) - Iraq's parliament may take a week to start debating a landmark draft oil law, officials said on Wednesday, as complaints from Kurdish authorities and Sunni Arab politicians signaled its passage could be rocky. Washington has pushed Iraq for months to speed up passage of the law and other pieces of legislation, which are seen as vital to curbing sectarian violence and healing deep divisions between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni Arabs.
Presentation of the draft to parliament after the cabinet approved it on Tuesday was a big step towards meeting a key political target set by the United States. But Mohammed Abu Bakr, head of parliament's media office, said the law had to first go to the energy and oil committee. "We need seven days to get the draft on the agenda of parliament to discuss it," he said.
The oil law is intended to ensure a fair distribution of the world's third largest oil reserves, which are located mainly in the Shi'ite south and the Kurdish north of Iraq. Sunni Arabs, the backbone of the insurgency, live mainly in central provinces that have little proven oil wealth and have long feared they would miss out on any windfall.
In a sign of future trouble, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said it had not seen nor approved the draft. "We hope the cabinet is not approving a text with which the KRG disagrees because this would violate the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan region," the KRG said in a statement.
Presentation of the draft to parliament after the cabinet approved it on Tuesday was a big step towards meeting a key political target set by the United States. But Mohammed Abu Bakr, head of parliament's media office, said the law had to first go to the energy and oil committee. "We need seven days to get the draft on the agenda of parliament to discuss it," he said.
The oil law is intended to ensure a fair distribution of the world's third largest oil reserves, which are located mainly in the Shi'ite south and the Kurdish north of Iraq. Sunni Arabs, the backbone of the insurgency, live mainly in central provinces that have little proven oil wealth and have long feared they would miss out on any windfall.
In a sign of future trouble, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said it had not seen nor approved the draft. "We hope the cabinet is not approving a text with which the KRG disagrees because this would violate the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan region," the KRG said in a statement.
Labels: draft oil law, energy and oil committee, Iraqi parliament, KRG
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Iraqi parliament to debate amended draft oil law
Oil
(BBC) - The Iraqi government has approved an amended draft law on how to share the country's oil wealth, officials say. Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said parliament would begin debating the bill on Wednesday. There are no details about changes to the original draft, which Kurdish groups objected to.
Correspondents say distribution of oil revenues is a key concern for Sunni Arab groups, who live in areas which are mostly without oil reserves. The original draft, approved by the cabinet in February, stipulated that a state oil company would take control of oilfields away from regional governments. But Kurdish organisations said such moves were unconstitutional.
They reached agreement with the government in June that the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan would receive 17% of all oil revenues. The United States has been pressing Iraq to pass an oil law, as part of several legislative measures to promote reconciliation among Iraq's religious and ethnic groups. Iraq's known oil reserves have been estimated at 115 billion barrels, but production has fallen since the US invasion from 3.5 million to two million.
Correspondents say distribution of oil revenues is a key concern for Sunni Arab groups, who live in areas which are mostly without oil reserves. The original draft, approved by the cabinet in February, stipulated that a state oil company would take control of oilfields away from regional governments. But Kurdish organisations said such moves were unconstitutional.
They reached agreement with the government in June that the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan would receive 17% of all oil revenues. The United States has been pressing Iraq to pass an oil law, as part of several legislative measures to promote reconciliation among Iraq's religious and ethnic groups. Iraq's known oil reserves have been estimated at 115 billion barrels, but production has fallen since the US invasion from 3.5 million to two million.
Labels: Ali al-Dabbagh, draft oil law, Iraqi parliament
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Iraq to set up national oil firm
Oil
(Al Alam News) - The Iraqi parliament will vote in weeks on founding the state-owned National Iraqi Oil Company, former Iraqi Oil Minister said on Tuesday. "The main goal of the new Iraqi oil and gas bill is founding a National Iraqi Oil Company which can regulate the oil and gas sectors which suffer from lack of coordination between several decision maker and administrative units" Ebrahim Bahr Al Uloum said in remarks to alalam TV.
(Al Alam News) - The Iraqi parliament will vote in weeks on founding the state-owned National Iraqi Oil Company, former Iraqi Oil Minister said on Tuesday. "The main goal of the new Iraqi oil and gas bill is founding a National Iraqi Oil Company which can regulate the oil and gas sectors which suffer from lack of coordination between several decision maker and administrative units" Ebrahim Bahr Al Uloum said in remarks to alalam TV.
He added that several Iraqi political groups see the oil and gas bill as a plan to distribute the income of oil exports, but insisted that the bill has 4 goals including reviving the National Iraqi Oil Company, setting a structure for the Oil Ministry, coordinating the government and oil producing provinces and specifying the position of foreign investors. Bahr Al Uloum described the oil as the main income of Iraqi nation and emphasized that giving the exclusive managment right of the National Iraqi Oil Company as well as controlling foreign investments could ensure a just sharing of wealth from Iraq's oil reserves between the whole Iraqi nation.
Labels: Ebrahim Bahr Al Uloum, Gas, Iraqi parliament, National Iraqi Oil Company, oil
Monday, May 21, 2007
Foreign security company lands $6 mn. parliament contract
Security
(Azzaman) - The Iraqi parliament is to sign a $6 million deal with a foreign security firm that will deploy guards to protect the deputies. Adel Barbari of the Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee said the company, which he declined to name would station guards at premises where the deputies meet protect them against violent attacks.
Foreign guards of whom there are tens of thousands in Iraq earn huge sums of money with a base annual salary of $150,000. In Iraqi parlance the guards are ‘mercenaries’ and are targeted by Iraqi armed and resistance groups. Their rough behavior and trigger happy character has earned them the wrath of the Iraqi people. Like U.S troops, they are immune from prosecution and standing trial under Iraqi law.
Barbari said the foreign guards would supervise “Iraqi security personnel, protect the parliament building and inspect anyone entering and leaving it.” Several people, including a number of deputies, were killed in a suicide bomb attack in the parliament’s cafeteria last month. Barbari said the deputies were determined not to let that kind of attack happen again.
Foreign guards of whom there are tens of thousands in Iraq earn huge sums of money with a base annual salary of $150,000. In Iraqi parlance the guards are ‘mercenaries’ and are targeted by Iraqi armed and resistance groups. Their rough behavior and trigger happy character has earned them the wrath of the Iraqi people. Like U.S troops, they are immune from prosecution and standing trial under Iraqi law.
Barbari said the foreign guards would supervise “Iraqi security personnel, protect the parliament building and inspect anyone entering and leaving it.” Several people, including a number of deputies, were killed in a suicide bomb attack in the parliament’s cafeteria last month. Barbari said the deputies were determined not to let that kind of attack happen again.
Labels: Adel Barbari, foreign security firm, Iraqi parliament
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Sadr Movement Opposes Some New Ministers
Political
(Al Bayyna Newspaper) - 14 MAY - The Iraqi Parliament has postponed the assignment of seven new Ministers who will replace the six Sadr Movement Ministers and the Minister of Justice. It was believed that the vote on the new Ministers would occur on Tuesday but arguments among the political entities forced the Parliament Chief, Mahmoud Al Mashahdani, to end the session.
Sources anticipate that the Parliament will witness strong disagreements about the new Ministers. The Sadr Movement clarified that they will object to some Ministers because the nominated Ministers belong to political entities while Sadr Movement told Al Maliki that the new Ministers should be independent and professionally qualified.
Sources said that Al Maliki will face problems in the Parliament regarding the new Ministers. It is expected that the Parliament will reject some of them. Al Maliki promised to replace Al Sadr Ministers with independent Ministers and the nominated names are not independent. This issue will make the Sadr Movement angry.
Sources anticipate that the Parliament will witness strong disagreements about the new Ministers. The Sadr Movement clarified that they will object to some Ministers because the nominated Ministers belong to political entities while Sadr Movement told Al Maliki that the new Ministers should be independent and professionally qualified.
Sources said that Al Maliki will face problems in the Parliament regarding the new Ministers. It is expected that the Parliament will reject some of them. Al Maliki promised to replace Al Sadr Ministers with independent Ministers and the nominated names are not independent. This issue will make the Sadr Movement angry.
The sources added, “The new Ministers names are; Dr. Mayada Abd Al Khadhm Al Hajami as Minister of Civil Society Affairs, Dr. Sabr Al Issawi as Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed Habib Al Abbas as Minister of Justice, Dr. Ridha Shurba as Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Adnan Abid Anouz as Minister of Health, Sami Atiya as Minister of Transportation, and Dr. Rafiya Shubr as a Minister of Province Affairs.
The Al Maliki government includes 32 Ministries and a Minister of State. On April 16th, six of Al Sadr’s Ministers withdrew from Al Maliki’s government because Al Maliki refused to present a [US] withdrawal schedule.
The Al Maliki government includes 32 Ministries and a Minister of State. On April 16th, six of Al Sadr’s Ministers withdrew from Al Maliki’s government because Al Maliki refused to present a [US] withdrawal schedule.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Nouri Al-Maliki, Sadr movement
Monday, May 14, 2007
Al Qaeda controls most of Diyala while parliament makes suggestions on security situation
Security
(Al Mada Newspaper AR.) - 13 MAY - According to eyewitnesses, insurgent groups control most of Baquba’s areas, plus other areas of Diyala Province. And, at the same time, the Iraqi and US forces have not made any progress against the insurgent groups.
An eyewitnesses told Al Mada Newspaper, “This bad security situation, in Diyala Province, began before Baghdad’s new security plan “Operation Enforcing the Law” started… Therefore, we do not agree with the US Army’s statement that the reason behind Diyala’s bad security situation is due to terrorists who ran away from Baghdad and came to Diyala Province.”
The Commander of US forces in Diyala Province said, “Currently, I only have 3,500 US soldiers; in order to restore security in Diyala Province I will need 3,000 more soldiers.” The eyewitnesses said, “We are shocked, because the (Iraqi) government has done nothing for us. Al Qaeda has killed 11,200 of Diyala’s people, displaced 9,500 families, and now we have 8,250 widows and 16,500 orphans… Al Qaeda has also destroyed 66 Shrines.”
[NOTE: The Newspaper noted that these numbers were provided by (displaced) Diyala residents, now living in Karbala Province who have conducted demonstrations about the conditions in Diyala Province. The witnesses also said, “Some clashes have occurred between the insurgents but Al Qaeda now controls many of Diyala’s government facilities." The witnesses added that recently the Shamarri, Tamim, Karkhiya, and Mujamah tribes have established a “coalition.”
In related news: yesterday, Iraq’s Parliament held a session to discuss Diyala’s security situation. A Parliament Committee had visited the displaced Diyala residents in Karbala Province who had protested about Diyala Province’s situation. This Parliament Committee made suggestions (about actions which) the security forces should take, such as:
Secure the main roads which lead to Baquba City, especially, secure the Baquba-Baghdad (Highway) route,
Conduct wide-spread military operations to “clean the terrorists out of” Diyala Province,
Form a (special) court to punish the criminals,
Punish the [corrupt and/or inefficient/incompetent] security officials in Diyala,
Form a committee to compensate the citizens who suffered losses or damages.
[NOTE: The Newspaper noted that these numbers were provided by (displaced) Diyala residents, now living in Karbala Province who have conducted demonstrations about the conditions in Diyala Province. The witnesses also said, “Some clashes have occurred between the insurgents but Al Qaeda now controls many of Diyala’s government facilities." The witnesses added that recently the Shamarri, Tamim, Karkhiya, and Mujamah tribes have established a “coalition.”
In related news: yesterday, Iraq’s Parliament held a session to discuss Diyala’s security situation. A Parliament Committee had visited the displaced Diyala residents in Karbala Province who had protested about Diyala Province’s situation. This Parliament Committee made suggestions (about actions which) the security forces should take, such as:
Secure the main roads which lead to Baquba City, especially, secure the Baquba-Baghdad (Highway) route,
Conduct wide-spread military operations to “clean the terrorists out of” Diyala Province,
Form a (special) court to punish the criminals,
Punish the [corrupt and/or inefficient/incompetent] security officials in Diyala,
Form a committee to compensate the citizens who suffered losses or damages.
Labels: Baqouba, Diyala, insurgents, Iraqi parliament, Karkhiya, Mujamah, Shamarri, Tamim, tribal coalition, violence
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Iraqi parliament votes to start legal proceedings against Al Jazeera
Media, Politics
(AP) - Parliament overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to start legal proceedings against Al-Jazeera television over perceived insults by the Arabic news channel against Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. It was not immediately clear what the legal action would amount to. Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni Arab, said only that the matter would be decided by parliament's legal department.
The move by the 275-seat house followed protests Friday in the southern cities of Basra and Najaf by hundreds of Shiites angered by an Al-Jazeera talk show in which the host questioned al-Sistani's leadership credentials and appeared to cast doubt on whether he personally authored his edicts.
The controversy has received extensive coverage by the Iraqi media, with some Shiite television channels devoting hours of air time to politicians and clerics expressing indignation. And in Shiite Iran, al-Sistani's birthplace, parliament on Sunday decided to ban Al-Jazeera reporters from its building in protest.
"We regret the Iraqi decision," Al-Jazeera's editor in chief Ahmed al-Sheik said from Doha, the Qatari capital. "This is an Iraqi decision. There is nothing that we can do. We have no problem with the Iraqi government and we deal with it like any other government," he said in a telephone interview.
Debating the issue before the vote, which was taken by a show of hands, several deputies suggested that the Qatar-based network be sued before the International Criminal Court in The Hague for what they said was its role in stoking sectarian strife in Iraq, a charge routinely leveled by Shiite politicians against the station.
Criticism by Sunni and Kurdish legislators, however, was muted, with some suggesting that the best defense against Al-Jazeera was for Iraqis to put their own house in order. Responding to calls by some deputies for a boycott of Al-Jazeera by Iraqi politicians, Sunni Arab lawmaker Mahdi Hafez said the station's allegations should be countered by Iraqis appearing on its programs. In unusually candid comments, lawmaker Safiyah al-Suheil said the root cause of the latest furor over Al-Jazeera was that al-Sistani has been brought into politics.
Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Shiite politicians have accused Al-Jazeera of championing the former leader's rule and the Sunni insurgency. The channel has been banned from operating in Iraq since 2004.
The move by the 275-seat house followed protests Friday in the southern cities of Basra and Najaf by hundreds of Shiites angered by an Al-Jazeera talk show in which the host questioned al-Sistani's leadership credentials and appeared to cast doubt on whether he personally authored his edicts.
The controversy has received extensive coverage by the Iraqi media, with some Shiite television channels devoting hours of air time to politicians and clerics expressing indignation. And in Shiite Iran, al-Sistani's birthplace, parliament on Sunday decided to ban Al-Jazeera reporters from its building in protest.
"We regret the Iraqi decision," Al-Jazeera's editor in chief Ahmed al-Sheik said from Doha, the Qatari capital. "This is an Iraqi decision. There is nothing that we can do. We have no problem with the Iraqi government and we deal with it like any other government," he said in a telephone interview.
Debating the issue before the vote, which was taken by a show of hands, several deputies suggested that the Qatar-based network be sued before the International Criminal Court in The Hague for what they said was its role in stoking sectarian strife in Iraq, a charge routinely leveled by Shiite politicians against the station.
Criticism by Sunni and Kurdish legislators, however, was muted, with some suggesting that the best defense against Al-Jazeera was for Iraqis to put their own house in order. Responding to calls by some deputies for a boycott of Al-Jazeera by Iraqi politicians, Sunni Arab lawmaker Mahdi Hafez said the station's allegations should be countered by Iraqis appearing on its programs. In unusually candid comments, lawmaker Safiyah al-Suheil said the root cause of the latest furor over Al-Jazeera was that al-Sistani has been brought into politics.
Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Shiite politicians have accused Al-Jazeera of championing the former leader's rule and the Sunni insurgency. The channel has been banned from operating in Iraq since 2004.
Labels: Ahmed al-Sheik, Al Jazeera, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Doha, Iraqi parliament, Safiyah al-Suheil
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Iraqi govt - draft oil law sent to parliament
Oil, Politics
(Reuters) - The Iraqi government has sent to parliament a landmark draft oil law, the oil minister said on Wednesday, a major step towards meeting one of the political benchmarks Washington has set for Baghdad. Parliamentary officials, however, said they were unaware the bill had been submitted to the legislature. The draft law, crucial to regulating how wealth from Iraq's vast reserves would be shared by its sectarian and ethnic groups, was passed by cabinet in February and hailed at the time by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as a pillar of Iraqi unity.
But a dispute between the central government and autonomous, oil-rich Kurdistan over control of the world's third largest oil reserves has delayed its submission. Speaking to reporters in Saudi Arabia, Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said Kurdish officials were happy with the law, adding he hoped it would pass by the end of May. "It has been sent to parliament now. There has been agreement among the political parties to work together to enact it by the end of the month. We are still hoping that parliament will be able to do that," Shahristani said.
"The KRG (Kurdish regional government) is not opposed to the draft law. On the contrary, they are very happy with the draft law." Haider al-Ibadi, a lawmaker and head of the economic and investment commission in parliament, told Reuters the parliament had not received any draft yet. "The parliament hasn't received the original draft yet," he said, adding he expected the cabinet would meet tomorrow to send the draft to parliament.
There was no immediate comment from Kurdish officials, who have said annexes in the draft are unconstitutional because they wrest oilfields from regional governments and place them under a new state oil company. Kurdish officials had warned they would try to block the bill, which is also vital to attracting foreign investment to boost Iraq's oil output and rebuild its shattered economy.
But a dispute between the central government and autonomous, oil-rich Kurdistan over control of the world's third largest oil reserves has delayed its submission. Speaking to reporters in Saudi Arabia, Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani said Kurdish officials were happy with the law, adding he hoped it would pass by the end of May. "It has been sent to parliament now. There has been agreement among the political parties to work together to enact it by the end of the month. We are still hoping that parliament will be able to do that," Shahristani said.
"The KRG (Kurdish regional government) is not opposed to the draft law. On the contrary, they are very happy with the draft law." Haider al-Ibadi, a lawmaker and head of the economic and investment commission in parliament, told Reuters the parliament had not received any draft yet. "The parliament hasn't received the original draft yet," he said, adding he expected the cabinet would meet tomorrow to send the draft to parliament.
There was no immediate comment from Kurdish officials, who have said annexes in the draft are unconstitutional because they wrest oilfields from regional governments and place them under a new state oil company. Kurdish officials had warned they would try to block the bill, which is also vital to attracting foreign investment to boost Iraq's oil output and rebuild its shattered economy.
Labels: draft oil law, Haider al-Ibadi, Hussain al-Shahristani, Iraqi government, Iraqi parliament, KRG
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Cabinet debates replacement ministers as Sadrists leave
Politics
(Reuters) - Iraq's cabinet debated on Tuesday who would replace six ministers loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr after they quit a day earlier, and officials said non-sectarian technocrats would likely be chosen. In the biggest cabinet shakeup since Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki took office a year ago, the ministers pulled out of the government in protest at his refusal to set a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal, a demand of the anti-American cleric.
The Sadrists, who form the single biggest parliamentary bloc in the ruling Shi'ite Alliance, called on Maliki to appoint non-partisan independents, a move the prime minister welcomed. An aide to the prime minister said Maliki would work swiftly to fill the posts, which include the transport and health ministries, and present his nominees to parliament within days.
Analysts are divided on the implications of Sadr's pullout but agree it is unlikely to significantly weaken the Shi'ite-led government. The biggest concern is whether Sadr, by distancing himself from the government, may feel less constrained to rein in his feared Mehdi Army militia.
Maliki's government may also feel under more pressure to address the timetable issue, a popular demand of many Iraqis four years after the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Tens of thousands rallied last week to protest at the U.S. presence. Maliki reiterated on Monday that U.S. troops would leave Iraq only when Iraqi forces could take over security. His new, U.S.-trained army is still heavily dependent on U.S. firepower and logistical support. A regular cabinet meeting was being held on Tuesday and senior Shi'ite lawmaker Haider al-Ibadi said replacements would inevitably be discussed.
The Sadrists, who form the single biggest parliamentary bloc in the ruling Shi'ite Alliance, called on Maliki to appoint non-partisan independents, a move the prime minister welcomed. An aide to the prime minister said Maliki would work swiftly to fill the posts, which include the transport and health ministries, and present his nominees to parliament within days.
Analysts are divided on the implications of Sadr's pullout but agree it is unlikely to significantly weaken the Shi'ite-led government. The biggest concern is whether Sadr, by distancing himself from the government, may feel less constrained to rein in his feared Mehdi Army militia.
Maliki's government may also feel under more pressure to address the timetable issue, a popular demand of many Iraqis four years after the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Tens of thousands rallied last week to protest at the U.S. presence. Maliki reiterated on Monday that U.S. troops would leave Iraq only when Iraqi forces could take over security. His new, U.S.-trained army is still heavily dependent on U.S. firepower and logistical support. A regular cabinet meeting was being held on Tuesday and senior Shi'ite lawmaker Haider al-Ibadi said replacements would inevitably be discussed.
Another Shi'ite lawmaker from Maliki's Dawa party confirmed candidates' names were under discussion. "There will not be choices based on sectarian affiliations," said Ali al-Adeeb. Some analysts contend Sadr was losing support within his movement because of his tacit support for the crackdown, which he had hoped would speed up a U.S. troop withdrawal, and that was why he decided to pull out.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Nouri Al-Maliki, Sadrists
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Islamic State of Iraq claims parliament bombing
Security
(Washington Post) - A group linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq asserted responsibility Friday for the previous day's deadly suicide bombing inside the Green Zone, while the U.S. military said the blast killed fewer people than it originally reported. In an Internet posting, the Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni umbrella organization said to have been created by the group al-Qaeda in Iraq, said one of its followers detonated a belt of explosives in the Iraqi parliament's cafeteria. The group also warned of future attacks on the building.
"These disbelieving parliamentarians challenge the Lord of earth and heaven for his rule, and deserve nothing but death," the statement said, according to a translation by the Washington-based SITE Institute, which tracks terrorist organizations. "Oh men of Sunnah, you made Allah laugh as you saw these parliamentarian monkeys cry and scream at the terror of what they had seen after a brave knight entered upon them."
The Islamic State of Iraq and other Sunni insurgent groups have asserted responsibility for several recent attacks against both Sunnis and Shiites who have cooperated with Americans or the Iraqi government. The Islamic State of Iraq said it was also behind a suicide bombing last month inside the Baghdad home of Deputy Prime Minister Salam Z. al-Zobaee. That attack wounded the lawmaker and killed at least six people.
"These disbelieving parliamentarians challenge the Lord of earth and heaven for his rule, and deserve nothing but death," the statement said, according to a translation by the Washington-based SITE Institute, which tracks terrorist organizations. "Oh men of Sunnah, you made Allah laugh as you saw these parliamentarian monkeys cry and scream at the terror of what they had seen after a brave knight entered upon them."
The Islamic State of Iraq and other Sunni insurgent groups have asserted responsibility for several recent attacks against both Sunnis and Shiites who have cooperated with Americans or the Iraqi government. The Islamic State of Iraq said it was also behind a suicide bombing last month inside the Baghdad home of Deputy Prime Minister Salam Z. al-Zobaee. That attack wounded the lawmaker and killed at least six people.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Islamic State of Iraq
Turkish Army to deliver 'pinpoint' strikes against PKK bases
Security, Turkey
(AINA) - The Turkish military may start a three-month transborder operation against Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq, the weekly Tempo quoted the Army chief of staff as saying Friday. Gen. Yasr Buyukanit said Thursday it was necessary to carry out a military operation against Kurdish insurgents in northern Iraq.
He said the Turkish Army was currently conducting large-scale operations in different parts of southeast Turkey against the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), adding 13 Turkish servicemen had been killed in action against the separatists so far this year. According to the weekly, the Turkish Army is not planning to conduct large-scale operations in northern Iraq, but will deliver "pinpoint strikes" against PKK bases.
"Troops will be airlifted to operation areas for a day and after effectively engaging pre-planned targets, will be airlifted back to base," it said. The paper quoted sources in the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and military experts as saying that in the lead-up to the operation, the Turkish Army is planning to establish a "buffer zone" along the border with Iraq to prevent infiltration of Kurdish militants into Turkey.
A similar zone is to be set up on Iraqi territory. "An operation in North Iraq is imperative. It requires political will," General Yasr Buyukanit said Thursday, adding the Turkish Army had evidence the PKK plans to intensify terrorist activity in Turkey. He said terrorism is one of the principal threats to Turkey.
The Turkish chief of staff denied reports that a group of senior Army officers were plotting to overthrow the Tayyip Erdogan government. "We have no evidence confirming the media reports [about an imminent coup]," he said. Prime Minister Erdogan said Ankara insisted Iraq meet its demand to crack down on the Kurdish separatists based in northern Iraq.
The speakers of both the Iraqi Parliament and Iraq's Kurdistan assembly described a call by Turkey's top general for a cross-border military operation as a "dangerous escalation," warning Ankara against interfering in the country's affairs. The warning came as the European Commission urged Turkey and Iraq to settle differences peacefully.
He said the Turkish Army was currently conducting large-scale operations in different parts of southeast Turkey against the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), adding 13 Turkish servicemen had been killed in action against the separatists so far this year. According to the weekly, the Turkish Army is not planning to conduct large-scale operations in northern Iraq, but will deliver "pinpoint strikes" against PKK bases.
"Troops will be airlifted to operation areas for a day and after effectively engaging pre-planned targets, will be airlifted back to base," it said. The paper quoted sources in the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and military experts as saying that in the lead-up to the operation, the Turkish Army is planning to establish a "buffer zone" along the border with Iraq to prevent infiltration of Kurdish militants into Turkey.
A similar zone is to be set up on Iraqi territory. "An operation in North Iraq is imperative. It requires political will," General Yasr Buyukanit said Thursday, adding the Turkish Army had evidence the PKK plans to intensify terrorist activity in Turkey. He said terrorism is one of the principal threats to Turkey.
The Turkish chief of staff denied reports that a group of senior Army officers were plotting to overthrow the Tayyip Erdogan government. "We have no evidence confirming the media reports [about an imminent coup]," he said. Prime Minister Erdogan said Ankara insisted Iraq meet its demand to crack down on the Kurdish separatists based in northern Iraq.
The speakers of both the Iraqi Parliament and Iraq's Kurdistan assembly described a call by Turkey's top general for a cross-border military operation as a "dangerous escalation," warning Ankara against interfering in the country's affairs. The warning came as the European Commission urged Turkey and Iraq to settle differences peacefully.
Labels: EU, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Iraqi parliament, PKK, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey
Friday, April 13, 2007
Three people held over parliament bombing
Security, Politics
Three cafeteria workers in Iraq's parliament have been detained following a suicide bombing in the building which killed one MP, a senior lawmaker said on Friday. Hasan Al Senaid, a lawmaker from the ruling Shiite Alliance bloc, said the three were being held for questioning but had not yet been charged. Some parliamentary guards were also being investigated but none were being held.
The original death toll from the blast was announced as eight deaths, but the US military revised the toll to one, although some reports say two MPs were killed in the attack. The bombing was the worst breach of security in the Green Zone, Baghdad's most secure area. The suicide bomber who blew himself up inside Iraq's parliament building was probably the bodyguard of a lawmaker, a senior security official at the national assembly said yesterday.
"There is a strong indication that the suicide bomber was a bodyguard of one of the lawmakers," the official said. He said three lawmakers, for example, are known to regularly refuse security checks inside the heavily guarded Green Zone where parliament sits. The official said police were also questioning the manager of the cafeteria, who was new on the job after being hired last month, as well as kitchen staff working at the cafe.
"There is a strong indication that the suicide bomber was a bodyguard of one of the lawmakers," the official said. He said three lawmakers, for example, are known to regularly refuse security checks inside the heavily guarded Green Zone where parliament sits. The official said police were also questioning the manager of the cafeteria, who was new on the job after being hired last month, as well as kitchen staff working at the cafe.
Iraqi authorities had intelligence that militants were planning an attack on parliament before a suicide bombing at the building, a senior government source said on Friday. "We had prior intelligence that there would be an attack on the parliament," the source told Reuters, without specifying when or how the information had been received.
Labels: Hasan Al Senaid, Iraqi parliament, suicide bomber
Parliamentary session in defiance of terrorism
Politics, Security
(AP) - Few Iraqi lawmakers managed to attend a rare emergency legislative session Friday, a day after a suicide bomber ripped through their cafeteria in a brazen attack inside Baghdad's U.S.-guarded Green Zone. Both Iraqi and American officials Friday revised down their estimates of those killed in the suicide bombing, which penetrated several layers of security. The U.S. issued a statement saying one civilian was killed.
But Iraqi parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani opened Friday's session by asking members of recite verses from the Quran to mourn the death of a "hero, the parliament member Mohammed Awad." Awad, a Sunni, was a member of the moderate National Dialogue Front. Party leader Saleh al-Mutlaq also confirmed his death, and said a female lawmaker from the same list was wounded.
Friday's emergency meeting had been scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., but began nearly 1.5 hours late, apparently because of low turnout and increased security measures. Many lawmakers were unable to reach the parliament building, whose interior was still in shambles Friday, because of a weekly driving ban on the Muslim day of rest. Mohammed Abu Bakr, head of the parliament's media office said, "the MPs' turnout is very low today because most of them are visiting those who were wounded by the blast," he said.
Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani called for the session, a rare occurrence on Friday, to "defy terrorism," state television quoted him as saying. State-run Iraqiya television's transmission was draped Friday in a black mourning banner. Regular programming aired, but the screen had a black stripe across the upper left hand corner.
But Iraqi parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani opened Friday's session by asking members of recite verses from the Quran to mourn the death of a "hero, the parliament member Mohammed Awad." Awad, a Sunni, was a member of the moderate National Dialogue Front. Party leader Saleh al-Mutlaq also confirmed his death, and said a female lawmaker from the same list was wounded.
Friday's emergency meeting had been scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., but began nearly 1.5 hours late, apparently because of low turnout and increased security measures. Many lawmakers were unable to reach the parliament building, whose interior was still in shambles Friday, because of a weekly driving ban on the Muslim day of rest. Mohammed Abu Bakr, head of the parliament's media office said, "the MPs' turnout is very low today because most of them are visiting those who were wounded by the blast," he said.
Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani called for the session, a rare occurrence on Friday, to "defy terrorism," state television quoted him as saying. State-run Iraqiya television's transmission was draped Friday in a black mourning banner. Regular programming aired, but the screen had a black stripe across the upper left hand corner.
Security officials at parliament, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, said they believed the cafeteria bomber was a bodyguard of a Sunni lawmaker who was not among the casualties. Caldwell said the attack bore the trademarks of al-Qaida in Iraq. "We don't know at this point who it was. We do know in the past that suicide vests have been used predominantly by al-Qaida," he said.
It would be the second time in less than a month that a bodyguard wearing a suicide vest attacked a Sunni official. On March 23 a member of Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie's security detail exploded his suicide vest and seriously wounded al-Zubaie, the highest-ranking Sunni in the Iraqi government.
It would be the second time in less than a month that a bodyguard wearing a suicide vest attacked a Sunni official. On March 23 a member of Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie's security detail exploded his suicide vest and seriously wounded al-Zubaie, the highest-ranking Sunni in the Iraqi government.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Mohammed Awad
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Summary of parliament attack
Security, Politics
Who was behind it? As the casualty count for Thursday's bombing of the Iraqi Parliament continued to rise, the Islamic State in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it a message to those who cooperate with "the occupier and its agents." The statement, posted on an Islamist Website, further warned, "We will reach you wherever you are"
Who carried it out? Security officials at parliament, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information, said they believed the bomber was a bodyguard of a Sunni member of parliament who was not among the dead. They would not name the member of parliament.
Two more bombs found The officials also said two satchel bombs were found near the cafeteria. A U.S. bomb squad took the explosives away and detonated them without incident. Iraqi officials said the bomber struck the cafeteria while several lawmakers were eating lunch, and at least three of them — two Sunnis and a Shiite — were killed. Figures vary and some sources state 10 were killed. State television said 30 people were wounded.
Who was killed? One of the dead lawmakers was Mohammed Awad, a member of the Sunni National Dialogue Front, said party leader Saleh al-Mutlaq. A female Sunni lawmaker from the same list was wounded, he said. Another was Taha al-Liheibi, of the Sunni Accordance Front, said Mohammed Abu Bakr, who heads the legislature's media department. A third dead legislator was Niamah al-Mayahi, a member of the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance bloc, said Saleh al-Aujaili, a fellow member. Asif Hussein Muhammad, an MP from the Islamic Union of Kurdistan, was also killed in the blast.
Security breach Earlier in the day, security officials used dogs to check people entering the building in a rare precaution — apparently concerned that an attack might take place. A security scanner for pedestrians at the entrance to the Green Zone near the parliament building was not working Thursday, Abu Bakr said. People were searched only by hand and had to pass through metal detectors, he said.
Who was killed? One of the dead lawmakers was Mohammed Awad, a member of the Sunni National Dialogue Front, said party leader Saleh al-Mutlaq. A female Sunni lawmaker from the same list was wounded, he said. Another was Taha al-Liheibi, of the Sunni Accordance Front, said Mohammed Abu Bakr, who heads the legislature's media department. A third dead legislator was Niamah al-Mayahi, a member of the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance bloc, said Saleh al-Aujaili, a fellow member. Asif Hussein Muhammad, an MP from the Islamic Union of Kurdistan, was also killed in the blast.
Security breach Earlier in the day, security officials used dogs to check people entering the building in a rare precaution — apparently concerned that an attack might take place. A security scanner for pedestrians at the entrance to the Green Zone near the parliament building was not working Thursday, Abu Bakr said. People were searched only by hand and had to pass through metal detectors, he said.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Islamic State in Iraq, suicide bomber
