MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ PROTESTS Anti-corruption protests spread through Iraq's capital and south

Record ID: 144742

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ PROTESTS Anti-corruption protests spread through Iraq's capital and south
  • Date: 7th August 2015
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (AUGUST 7, 2015) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING IN TAHRIR SQUARE IN CENTRAL BAGHDAD CARRYING FLAGS AND BANNERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING CARRYING FLAGS AND BANNERS MORE PROTESTERS IN STREET CARRYING BIG FLAG VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CARRYING BANNERS AGAINST CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING AND CARRYING FAKE COFFIN WITH ANTI-PARLIAM
  • Embargoed: 22nd August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8SZILFCJMFIZ33R2DDB1GKTBU
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Iraq's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric called on the prime minister on Friday (August 7) to "strike with an iron fist" against corruption, as fresh anti-government protests erupted in Baghdad and Basra.
    Public anger at power cuts as temperatures soar past 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) and mismanagement of other services has triggered big protests in recent weeks in Baghdad and the southern oil city of Basra.
    As thousands filled main squares again on Friday, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani pushed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who last month ordered cuts to top officials' salaries and perks including subsidised power for their homes, to go further.
    In Baghdad's Tahrir Square, thousands converged under tight security to call for accountability.
    "The people and the religious authorities gave the chance to Abadi to change these corrupt faces, the people are chanting one slogan which is removing the corrupt, enabling the law and oversight and bringing in ministers with experience," said Professor Sattar Awad.
    Another protester, Dr. Ramzi Ahmed, also said it was time to act.
    "Corruption is eating away all of the governmental establishments, unfortunately the same bad faces came to us to rule Iraq. The current ones are the orphans of the man who wanted a third term (former PM Maliki)," he said, in reference to Maliki's eventually unsuccessful attempt at a controversial third term as premier.
    The protests could hamper government efforts to rally support in its fight to push Islamic State militants from territory they hold in the north and west of Iraq.
    In Basra, protesters filled the streets of the city.
    Protester Mohamed Hamed Ghadban said senior officials should face enquiries.
    "There is incredible administrative and financial corruption, in the ministry of transportation, Minister Baker Solagh Jaber Al Zubaidi, minister of finance and minister of justice should all listen to me, there are documents that prove all the theft. This is stealing and there are families without an income, young people who are jobless, some are begging and government officials are stealing," he said.
    Corruption in the state is acknowledged by Baghdad but accusations of who is guilty of corruption are often pinned on political rivals.
    Tribal figure Hadi Omran, said the demonstration in Basra included residents from a variety of backgrounds who were united in their wishes for more transparency and accountability and better spending of public funds.
    "All Basra tribes, workers and farmers all gathered today demanding first - the services - and we also demand that parliament should give power to the prime minster to remove the corrupt ministers," he said.
    Iraq's parliamentary speaker Saleem al-Jubouri, said parliament will prioritise drafting legislation to try and tackle corruption when it reconvenes.
    "The parliament will dedicate its next session to look into the protesters' demands and work on producing legislation that mandates (action from) the executive branch, under a a time frame, to fulfill these demands, which are, originally, previous government commitments," he said on state television station Iraqiya.
    Iraq's sectarian sharing system for government positions has been criticised for promoting unqualified candidates and producing mismanagement and corruption.
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