A political row in Iraqi Kurdistan escalated on Tuesday when a leader of one of its largest political parties said he would fight to clear his name in court.
Lahur Talabani is embroiled in a complex family dispute that has simmered for months.
The charges levelled against him are vague, but they are being led by his cousin Bafel Talabani, with whom he shares the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan presidency.
Bafel is the eldest son of the late Jalal Talabani, one of the region’s two most powerful leaders.
Lahur said he would step down from his position as co-president of the PUK party and hand over responsibilities to his cousin on the condition that a committee was formed “to reveal the truth” about what he called “baseless” allegations made against him by fellow members of the party.
“Unfortunately, it seems that my party has not been able to form this committee due to a blockade,” he said in a statement.
“After being disappointed in my party’s politburo, I decided to seek legal recourse through the Sulaimani judiciary and ask that all the accusations against me be resolved through the courts.”
The men were elected in February last year.
Lahur said he would remain in Kurdistan “until [his] last breath”, and accused government forces of trying to push him out.
Opposing sides within the PUK have a large network of business interests and well-armed supporters.
Lahur has cultivated a large network of supporters in the intelligence services in Sulaymaniyah, the PUK’s power base, in eastern Kurdistan.
Bafel stands accused by some observers of making moves to consolidate growing influence over the party. He has reportedly replaced high-ranking officials with loyalists and changed his title to President of the PUK on public forums.
His appointment of Iran-allied Salman Amin as director of the PUK’s intelligence agency and Wahad Halabji as head of the counter-terrorism agency also indicates a departure from Lahur’s position as a US ally.
In another shake-up, Bafel’s brother Qubad Talabani, who is Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdish Region, will lead a coalition comprising the PUK and its competing Gorran party before Iraq’s parliamentary elections in October.
Lahur was instrumental in brokering the PUK-Gorran agreement.
He was also a player, within a joint effort with the Kurdish region’s Peshmerga militia, in the fight against ISIS.
The PUK shares power with the Erbil-based Kurdish Democratic Party, although smaller political parties have emerged in recent years. The Peshmerga’s support is is divided between the KDP and PUK.
Lahur has close ties with Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and both men previously led the Kurdish Region Intelligence Forces.
On Monday, a crowd of Lahur’s supporters gathered outside his home with more protests expected in the coming hours.
Tomorrow 2021
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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Brief scoreline:
Wales 1
James 5'
Slovakia 0
Man of the Match: Dan James (Wales)
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Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
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The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
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Company%C2%A0profile
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
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Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
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AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
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The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
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Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
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MWTC
Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
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