Rival Iraqi political leaders met on Wednesday in an attempt to find a way out of a 10-month impasse over forming a new government.
This comes amid fears that the current stand-off could turn violent, as tension runs high between opposing political blocs.
However, the Sadrist Movement, a major political group sponsored by Shiite cleric and political leader Moqtada Al Sadr, had said it would not take part in the meeting.
Followers of Mr Al Sadr last month breached Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, occupied the parliament building and staged a sit-in.
Iraq held early elections on October 10 in response to one of the core demands of a nationwide, pro-reform protest movement that erupted in 2019 in central and southern parts of the country.
The elections were the fifth parliamentary vote for a full-term government since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Since then, bitter rivalry among political elites, mainly among the country’s majority Shiites, has delayed the process of forming a government. With the Shiites divided, there are fears that Iraq could slide into intra-sectarian strife.
On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi invited political leaders to attend a national dialogue at the government palace in the Green Zone on Wednesday.
The meeting was meant to kick start a “serious national dialogue and joint thinking in order to find the needed solutions to the current political crisis”, Mr Al Kadhimi said.
He called for de-escalation “to give enough room for moderate proposals within the national debate”.
The Sadrist Movement did not give details on why it was not taking part in the meeting.
It has proven capable of mobilising millions of followers, mainly from impoverished areas in Iraq's Shiite south and suburbs of Baghdad.
Hadi Al Amiri, who leads the Badr Organisation — one of the most influential parties in the Co-ordination Framework, Mr Al Sadr's rival Shiite bloc — was attending as the head of framework, according to MP Ahmed Al Asadi.
The UN envoy to Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the Head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan were also attending.
Representatives of other political parties were due to attend the meeting but the level of their participation was not clear. Iraqi President Barham Salih and Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al Halbouri also attended.
Mr Al Sadr wants to dissolve Parliament and hold snap elections.
After the meeting, a statement from Al Kadhimi's office said the attendees called for de-escalations and expressed their commitment to reaching solutions to the political crisis, prioritising the maintainance of peace among Iraqis.
It didn't rule out holding early elections as a means to end the crisis but, said they must be based on the constitution.
"The attendees indicated that resorting to the ballot box once again through early elections is not an unprecedented in the history of democracies," the statement said.
"When the political crises reach a dead end, national political parties resort to constitutional courses in regard to elections," it added.
They agreed on continuing the national dialogue in order and to reach a "legal and constitutional map to address the current crisis," it said.
Following his inability to form a new government after emerging with the biggest bloc in the elections — with 73 seats in the 329-seat Parliament — Mr Al Sadr in June ordered his MPs to resign.
He blamed the Iran-backed Co-ordination Framework for hindering his efforts to form a government through lawsuits and boycotts of parliamentary sessions.
After Mr Al Sadr's supporters stormed the parliamentary building, tensions rose further when the Co-ordination Framework launched counter-protests and a sit-in in another part of the Green Zone, accusing the Shiite leader of staging a coup.
The Green Zone is home to key government buildings including the Cabinet and the Parliament, as well as foreign embassies and senior politicians' residencies.
The Co-ordination Framework, which consists of influential Tehran-backed militias and political parties, wants to set conditions and is demanding a new transitional government before new polls.
In an attempt to put pressure on rivals, Mr Al Sadr last week demanded the country's judiciary dissolve Parliament by the end of this week and set a date for early elections or face unspecified consequences.
But that request was rejected by the Supreme Judicial Council on Sunday. The court said it had no power to dissolve Parliament.
According to the Iraqi constitution, a vote passed by an absolute majority is required to dissolve Parliament, and that vote can be requested only by a third of MPs or by the prime minister, with the president's approval.
Mr Al Sadr argues that his request was based on missing the constitutional deadlines for appointing a new president and prime minister being missed. He also asked his supporters to file lawsuits over the issue with the Supreme Federal Court.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Federal Court is looking into a lawsuit filed in May by the independent Waie Movement based on the same argument for dissolving Parliament.
The court was supposed to issue its verdict on Wednesday, but has delayed it until August 30.
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
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
THE SPECS
Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic
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Power: 518bhp
Torque: 625Nm
Speed: 0-100kmh 5.3 seconds
Price: Dh633,435
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Day 2, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dinesh Chandimal has inherited a challenging job, after being made Sri Lanka’s Test captain. He responded in perfect fashion, with an easy-natured century against Pakistan. He brought up three figures with a majestic cover drive, which he just stood and admired.
Stat of the day – 33 It took 33 balls for Dilruwan Perera to get off the mark. His time on zero was eventful enough. The Sri Lankan No 7 was given out LBW twice, but managed to have both decisions overturned on review. The TV replays showed both times that he had inside edged the ball onto his pad.
The verdict In the two previous times these two sides have met in Abu Dhabi, the Tests have been drawn. The docile nature of proceedings so far makes that the likely outcome again this time, but both sides will be harbouring thoughts that they can force their way into a winning position.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
