- Title: Iraqi protesters reject nominee of Iran-backed bloc for PM
- Date: 27th December 2019
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (DECEMBER 27, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING IN TAHRIR SQUARE CARRYING IRAQI FLAGS AND CHANTING ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS WOMEN PROTESTERS CHANTING (Arabic): "No, no to parties." PROTESTERS GATHERED IN TAHRIR SQUARE SOUNDBITE (Arabic) PROTESTER, A'ISHA,' SAYING: ''It seems that they (the politicians) have not yet comprehended that we reject any of the old faces. We totally reject such persons being brought or nominated by them. We want to choose one of us, a qualified person. We don't want their attempts. We reject anyone from them, and we will put an X on (vote against) them. '' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SHAKING A LARGE IRAQI FLAG AND CHANTING (Arabic) "With soul and blood, we sacrifice for you, Iraq." PROTESTERS HOLDING LARGE IRAQI FLAG IN TAHRIR SQUARE FEMALE PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAG SOUNDBITE (Arabic) PROTESTER, DHIRGAM MAJID, SAYING: "The protesters insist that the new Prime Minister should be far (independent) from any party and far from the political elite ruling the country since 2003 and so far, those politicians have destroyed the country and left it in ruin.'' VEHICLES AND PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH TAHRIR SQUARE VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING PAST PICTURES OF CANDIDATES TO BE PRIME MINISTER WITH AN 'X' OVER THEM SOUNDBITE (Arabic) DR AMIL AL-JABOURI, SAYING: "The party which nominates any candidate to the post of PM, should know that not only his picture will be torn up, he knows the destiny waiting for him from the Iraqi people. President Barham Salih is not a mere man coming from Sulaimaniya, he took an oath to protect the constitution and protect the life of Iraqis, he is president of the country.'' VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING IN TAHRIR SQUARE
- Embargoed: 10th January 2020 15:30
- Keywords: Baghdad protests Iraq protest Iraq protests Iraqi President naming PM Iraqi President resigning Tahrir square
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- City: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001BBR23BB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Anti-government Iraqi protesters demonstrated in Baghdad on Friday (December 27) to reiterate demands for an 'independent' Prime Minister without links to any of the major political parties.
Protesters chanted "No, no to parties" as they marched through Tahrir Square, a hub of anti-government mass protests that have gripped Iraq since October 1 and have led to more than 450 deaths.
Some protesters said they wanted a "qualified person" to be chosen from the people, "far from the political elite ruling the country since 2003".
The protests come after Iraqi President Barham Salih refused on Thursday (December 26) to designate the nominee of an Iran-backed parliamentary bloc for prime minister, saying he would rather resign.
The Bina bloc, led by Iran-backed militia leader Hadi al-Amiri, had nominated Basra Governor Asaad al-Edani to be the next prime minister following weeks of political deadlock.
But Salih said in a statement that appointing Edani would not placate protesters or help calm the unrest that has rocked the country.
He said that because the constitution does not give him the right to reject nominees for the premiership, he was ready to quit.
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned last month as the protests continued but has remained in office in a caretaker capacity.
(Production: Maher Nazeh, Mohammed Kaftan, Fintan McDonnell) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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