Security forces must refrain from using violence against Iraqi protesters, Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi said on Monday as he attempted to quell public anger at the government’s inability to protect citizens.
Mr Al Kadhimi's remarks came during a visit to the southern province of Dhi Qar, where anti-government protests renewed after activist Sajad Al Iraqi was kidnapped several weeks ago.
“The prime minister called on the security services to deal professionally with the demonstrators, to observe the principles of human rights and respect the freedom of opinion, expression and demonstration,” a statement by his office said.
Since last October, Iraqis have been calling for an overhaul of the political system they consider to be corrupt. Thousands took the streets in the capital but their protests were met with live ammunition and violence.
The protests quickly spread from Baghdad to the southern provinces of Najaf, Dhi Qar, Karbala and Basra.
Violence by the security forces has left nearly 600 people dead and thousands of others with severe injuries.
“October’s martyrs are the pride of our country,” Mr Al Kadhimi said. “They sacrifice their lives for the sake of their country.”
Mr Al Kadhimi, who took office in May, said he rejects any “aggression and encroachment by security forces when carrying out their duties”.
The prime minister met security officials as well as demonstrators during his visit to Dhi Qar.
“The prime minister pledged to work on restoring confidence in security institutions by combating corruption to ensure that stability prevails in Iraq,” his office said.
Anger in Dhi Qar
Mr Al Iraqi and his colleague Bassem Fleih were attacked by gunmen in mid September near Nasiriyah, the provincial capital of Dhi Qar.
Mr Al Fleih was taken to a nearby hospital but Mr Al Iraqi was kidnapped.
The prime minister ordered an investigation team to find Mr Al Iraqi and arrest his abductors but there has been no news of him so far.
Iraqis vented their frustration at the government’s inability to free Mr Al Iraqi on social media. A video was circulated of his mother pleading for his return.
“My heart is shattered into pieces, it’s been more than five days since he was kidnapped. Please do not kill my son, his death will not make a difference, it will trigger hundreds more,” she said.
Protesters are angry at the government’s failure to address or take responsibility for its part in the bloodshed, or to hold militias of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces accountable.
Militia members are believed to be behind some of the killings.
The protest movement last week observed the first anniversary of the uprising with demonstrations in Baghdad and southern cities including Nasiriyah, Najaf and Basra. Activists said they were adding the call for justice for slain, wounded and missing protesters to their demands for political change, an end to corruption, better public services and jobs.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Company%20Profile
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The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
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What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
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The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
more from Janine di Giovanni
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
