Hundreds of supporters of pro-Iran groups clashed with security forces in Baghdad on Friday, leaving more than 100 people injured as they vented their fury over last month's Iraq election result, medical and security sources said.
“There were 125 people injured, 27 of them civilians and the rest from the security forces,” Iraq's health ministry said.
The political arm of the pro-Iran Hashed Al Shaabi paramilitary network saw its share of parliamentary seats decline substantially in the election, which the group's supporters have denounced as “fraud".
Demonstrators from groups loyal to Hashed Al Shaabi threw projectiles and “blocked … access to the Green Zone” on three sides before they were pushed back by police, who fired weapons in the air, a security source said, requesting anonymity.
The health ministry said nobody was killed in the clashes but some pro-Iran channels on messaging app Telegram claimed police fired live rounds at protesters.
“Two demonstrators were killed,” a leader of the Hezbollah Brigades, one of Hashed Al Shaabi's most powerful factions, told AFP, requesting anonymity.
Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi “ordered a full inquiry into Friday's events”, his office said, while President Barham Salih called for restraint.
After a brief lull, clashes resumed in the evening near the Green Zone, a source from the Hezbollah Brigades said.
The source also accused security forces of torching protest tents pitched by Hashed Al Shaabi supporters in the area.
Discontent over elections festers
Iraq's final election results have yet to be confirmed, almost four weeks since the October 10 ballot.
Early indications showed populist cleric Moqtada Al Sadr's bloc was likely to win 73 seats in the 329-member house. Mr Al Sadr has criticised foreign intervention in Iraq, including that of Iran.
The Conquest (Fatah) Alliance, the political arm of the multiparty Hashed Al Shaabi, won about 15, preliminary results showed.
In the last Parliament, it held 48 seats, making it the second-largest bloc.
The Taqadum party, led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi, took 37 seats, while former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law bloc won 35 seats.
As final results draw nearer, wrangling over government formation appears to have already begun. Mr Al Sadr was in Baghdad this week, holding meetings with Mr Al Halbousi, former prime minister Haider Al Abadi and cleric Ammar Al Hakim.
Mr Al Maliki said on Twitter that protesters, who were “claiming their legitimate rights”, should not escalate the violence and avoid provoking security forces.
“We strongly condemn the assault and the use of violence and excessive force by any party and we warn against the interference of malicious hands and suspicious parties in order to ignite sedition,” he said.
So far, unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud are casting a shadow over an election that was praised by the US, the UN Security Council and others for being the smoothest in years and without major technical glitches.
Last week, manual recounting was called at more than 2,000 polling stations after appeals over the results poured in.
Once the appeals are dealt with by the Judicial Commission, the results will be sent to the High Federal Court for ratification, and then Mr Salih will have 15 days to call for the new Parliament to convene.
It remains unclear when the final election results will be announced.
This week, the same area of Baghdad was hit by three rockets, which struck an area near a Red Crescent hospital, a bank and the district's water management department. No casualties were reported.
The so far unclaimed attack was the first to hit the Green Zone since two rockets were fired into the area on July 29.
Kill%20
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Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
57%20Seconds
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Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
The bio
Favourite food: Japanese
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Favourite hobby: Football
Favourite quote: If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough
Favourite country: UAE
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FOLD%204
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
RACECARD%20
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MO
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
What went into the film
25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
New sound technology, named 4D SRL
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Company%C2%A0profile
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England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The%20specs
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The%20specs%20
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UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.