Any objections to election results are legitimate and will be dealt with legally, Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Monday after protests against the outcome of the poll.
Iraq voted last Sunday in a nationwide election in which popular Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr won a majority of 73 seats in the 329-member Parliament. He campaigned as a nationalist and critic of Iran and foreign intervention.
I call on everyone to unite and work together as one for the sake of our country and its progression
Iraqi President Barham Salih
“The country is going through delicate circumstances and is facing grave challenges which require a unified national rank,” Mr Salih said.
“Dialogue must be a priority with the country’s interests above all,” he said.
Mr Salih's statement followed protests from supporters of pro-Iran parties that rejected the election results.
Preliminary results showed the Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, a coalition of Iran-backed and militia-aligned parties, was likely to have only about 15 MPs from the vote on October 10.
Local media reports said large groups loyal to the alliance were blocking a vital road north-east of Baghdad late on Sunday, while videos on social media portrayed protesters on the streets and gunshots were heard.
Smaller protests broke out in Basra, Wasit and Baghdad after the Resistance Co-ordination Committee, which is linked to Iran-backed militias, called for demonstrations.
“I call on everyone to unite and work together as one for the sake of our country and its progression,” Mr Salih said.
Local reports said Mr Al Sadr met political figures in Baghdad late on Sunday to supervise negotiations with the winning blocs to form the next government.
The commission said at least 167 parties and more than 3,200 candidates had competed for 329 seats.
Last year, Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi called an early general election for June 2021, months before the planned date.
The decision was in response to demands from anti-government protesters, who since 2019 have staged mass public demonstrations. At least 600 have been killed by militia groups and, in some cases, regular government security forces.
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20TV%204K%20(THIRD%20GENERATION)
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Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
