Iraqi Defence Minister Juma Anad must be “held accountable” for accusing state-sanctioned paramilitaries of igniting violence in the country, politicians linked to the militias said on Monday.
Tensions between the government and the militias rose after the arrest last week of Qassem Musleh, the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) head of operations in Anbar province.
He has been accused of terrorism, assassinations and attacks on US troops based in the country.
PMF militias backed by Iran responded with a show of force in and around Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone where government buildings and embassies are located, leading to a standoff with the army.
Mr Anad described the incident as a “security breach” and warned against such actions.
"We are calling on the groups to not repeat what happened.
"It is shameful for a conflict to take place within the security system, but there are parties that seek to cause chaos in the country, and monitor from a distance by pouring fuel that ignites the flames of a civil war," Mr Anad said.
The minister’s remarks were criticised by members of parliament linked to the PMF.
“Parliament must hold politicians accountable for fuelling and inciting violence between armed forces,” said Mohammed Abdul Karim, a deputy in the Fatah alliance that includes MPs associated with the Iran-backed groups in the PMF.
The alliance is led by Hadi Al Ameri of the Badr Organisation, one of the oldest, largest and most important of the Iraqi Shiite groups that are closely linked to Tehran.
“The fighting between officially recognised armed forces is only of interest to the American occupation forces, which are trying to stay in Iraq under any pretext,” Mr Karim said.
Saad Al Saadi, a member of the political bureau of Asaib Ahl Al Haq, another militia group affiliated with Fatah, accused Mr Anad of siding with the Americans.
"The defence minister is now part of the US project," he said.
Mr Al Saadi said Mr Anad's comment was “an insult to the efforts made by the PMF to counter ISIS".
The PMF was a major force in Iraq's war against the extremist group from 2014 to 2017, supporting Iraqi troops backed by US-led global coalition.
Former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki said on Twitter that efforts to draw members of the PMF into a confrontation with the army had not succeeded.
“There are attempts to drag the army and the PMF into clashes but they’ve failed,” he said, adding that both sides have “mixed their blood” in liberating Iraq from ISIS.
Mr Al Maliki warned against those who ignite “sedition”.
During Mr Al Maliki’s eight years in office, Iraq witnessed sectarian violence that contributed to the rise of ISIS.
Washington accused his administration of running a sectarian government that alienated sections of Iraqi society, particularly the Sunni minority, pushing them into the arms of ISIS, and undermined the morale of the army.
Mr Al Maliki left office reluctantly in 2014 after security forces crumbled in the face of a lightning advance by ISIS in northern Iraq.
The PMF was formed after tens of thousands of Iraqis responded a call from Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, Iraq's top Shiite cleric, to take up arms against the extremist group.
The militias were formally inducted into Iraq’s state security in 2018, after the defeat of ISIS, and are supposed to report directly to the prime minister.
However, Iran has had a clear hand in co-ordinating with PMF leaders since then, undermining the Iraqi state.
Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi promised to rein in the Iran-backed militias that operate outside of the state’s control after he took office last May, but has been unsuccessful so far.
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
THE SPECS
Aston Martin Rapide AMR
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
Transmission: Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic
Power: 595bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh999,563
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
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Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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DUBAI CARNIVAL RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Dubai Future, Harry Bentley (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Dubai Love, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Equilateral, James Doyle, Charles Hills.
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
Winner Laser Show, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Glorious Journey, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
UAE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Adel Al Hosani
Defenders: Bandar Al Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Mohammed Barghash, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Hassan Al Mahrami, Yousef Jaber, Mohammed Al Attas
Midfielders: Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Hamad, Khalfan Mubarak, Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Harib Abdallah, Mohammed Jumah
Forwards: Fabio De Lima, Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
UAE SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Khalid Essa, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Salem Rashid, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Attas, Walid Abbas, Hassan Al Mahrami, Mahmoud Khamis, Alhassan Saleh, Ali Salmeen, Yahia Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Majed Hassan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Fabio De Lima, Khalil Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Muhammed Jumah, Yahya Al Ghassani, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
