Soleimani in Iraq to push his PM’s choice as violence hits shrine cities
POLITICIANS MEET TO DISCUSS WHO WILL REPLACE ADEL ABDUL MAHDI
Iraq’s politicians gathered in Baghdad yesterday to discuss a way out of two months of protests that brought down the previous government, as violence hit two Shiite shrine cities.
Demonstrators demanding reform have flooded the capital and the Shiite-majority south since October in the largest grassroots movement the country has witnessed in years.
Seen as a threat to the ruling elite, the rallies were met with a heavy-handed response from security forces and armed groups that has left more than 420 people dead and nearly 20,000 wounded.
After a fresh uptick of violence last week, prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi formally resigned and talks to find a replacement have intensified this week in Baghdad.
Iran connection
Among those attending the negotiations are two key allies of Iraq’s main Shiite parties: Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Major General Qasem Soleimani and Lebanese power broker Mohammad Kawtharany, a high-ranking political source told AFP yesterday.
“Soleimani is in Baghdad to push for a particular candidate to succeed Abdel Mahdi,” the source said.
Kawtharany, who is Lebanese
militant group Hezbollah’s pointman on Iraq, “is also playing a large role in persuading political forces on this,” the source added.
The US said Soleimani’s presence showed its Iran was again “interfering” in Iraq, accusing Iran of “exploiting” the neighbouring country.
Iraq erupted two months ago over rampant corruption, lack of jobs and poor public services.
Poverty, unemployment
Despite the oil wealth of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) second-biggest producer, one in five Iraqis lives in poverty and youth unemployment stands at one quarter, the World Bank says.
Demonstrators say such problems require more deeprooted solutions than the resignation of Abdul Mahdi, the first premier to step down since Iraq installed a parliamentary system after Saddam Hussein’s overthrow in 2003.
Meanwhile, in Najaf, seat of Iraq’s Shiite religious leadership, anti-government demonstrators gathered around the tomb of a cleric who founded a Shiite party.
Armed men in civilian clothes who were guarding the tomb were seen firing shotguns and tear gas at protesters, but medics could not provide an immediate casualty toll.