Iraqi PM Calls For Parliamentary Support to Make Ministerial Amendments

Arab World

October 4th, 12:29pm

Asharq Al-Awsat

The protests appear to be largely spontaneous so far, with angry crowds shunning any involvement by the country's main political players. AFP PHOTO

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called on lawmakers on Thursday to support him to reshuffle cabinet posts and urged calm after three days of deadly civil unrest rocked the country. Abdul Mahdi said there was no ‘magic solution’ to Iraq’s chronic governance problems and graft but pledged to try to pass a law granting poor families a basic income, Reuters reported. The prime minister said protesters’ calls to end corruption were “correct” but said the government must be helped to carry out its duties. Ministerial amendments must be approved by parliament. Abdul Mahdi on Wednesday declared a curfew in Baghdad until further notice after at many people were killed and injured during anti-government demonstrations. So far the mass rallies that have left 31 dead. According to AFP, Mahdi said in a speech on Friday that security forces were abiding by "international standards" in how they were dealing with protesters.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1931256/iraqi-pm-calls-parliamentary-support-make-ministerial-amendments