The UN Security Council has extended its Iraq mission and expanded it to cover the monitoring of elections set for October 10 as political assassinations stoke fears about security on polling day.
The 15-nation council on Thursday voted unanimously to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq until May 27, 2022, a resolution drafted by the US shows.
The document calls for a “strengthened, robust and visible UN team, with additional staff, in advance of Iraq’s forthcoming election, to monitor Iraq’s election day with as broad a geographic coverage as possible”.
The UN team should “engage, encourage and co-ordinate with, and provide, as appropriate, logistical and security support to international and regional third-party observers invited by the government of Iraq", the resolution says.
The mission will also be asked to “launch a UN strategic messaging campaign to educate, inform and update Iraqi voters on election preparations and UN activities in support of elections in advance of and on election day".
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry praised the UN decision, saying it would help Baghdad to address “challenges and promote its stability”.
“We highly value the stances of international partners in support of the Iraqi government steps in this regard, which reflect positively on the security, stability and well-being of the Iraqi people and achieve their aspired goals,” the ministry said.
Iraq has in recent months had deadly attacks on journalists, pro-democracy activists and others, sparking calls to boycott the parliamentary polls while those responsible remain unpunished.
More than 70 activists have been kidnapped or killed since a protest movement erupted in October 2019 against government corruption, foreign interference and poor job prospects.
The attacks highlight the increasingly dangerous web of local and regional rivalries in the country and have heaped pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, who has struggled to curb the power of militias.
Tension flared on Wednesday after the arrest of militia leader Qassem Musleh, leading to a stand-off between the militia's supporters and government security forces in Baghdad.
Elections were set to answer a major demand of the demonstration movement, with protesters also rallying against Iranian influence in the country.
Iraqi officials have asked the council to strengthen the UN mission’s role in the elections and the US has pushed for the UN’s largest vote-monitoring mission, although some council members resisted such an expansion.
The UN has monitored and supported elections in countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan and Cambodia.
Support can involve logistical and technical assistance, observing polling centres and certifying results.
The US responded to how protesters gathered in Baghdad and were met with "brutal violence" by security forces on Tuesday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday.
"The United States is outraged that peaceful demonstrators who took to the streets to urge reform were met with threats and brutal violence," he said.
The US also discussed rising tensions over militias and deaths of activists.
"The violation of Iraqi sovereignty and rule of law by armed militias harms all Iraqis and their country," Mr Price added.
"We welcome every effort by the government to hold accountable the militias, thugs, and vigilante groups for their attacks against Iraqis exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as well as for their assault on the rule of law."
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The years Ramadan fell in May
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
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Honeymoonish
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Johnstone, Pickford, Ramsdale
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Godfrey, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, White
Midfielders Bellingham, Henderson, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse
Forwards Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Sancho, Sterling, Watkins
