Iraq factions reach deal to save govt, ‘end protests’

Iraq’s political class has reached a consensus to protect Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi’s government against protests sweeping the country’s capital and south for weeks, sources told AFP yesterday.

The agreement is the product of a series of meetings, including gatherings led by Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ foreign operations arm, the Qods Force.

He has met with top leaders in Najaf and Baghdad, piling on the pressure to close ranks around Abdel Mahdi.

A source present at some of those meetings told AFP Soleimani had met with populist cleric Moqtada Sadr, who had vocally backed the protests, and Mohammed Ridha Sistani, the son of Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

“Those meetings resulted in an agreement that Abdel Mahdi would remain in office,” the source said.

Public anger erupted into demonstrations on October 1 against corruption and a lack of jobs, escalating into calls for the entire ruling system to be overturned.

Abdel Mahdi, 77, came to power last year, pledging to tackle both corruption and unemployment.

But he has become the target of protesters’ rage, accused of commandeering a bloody crackdown that has left nearly 300 dead since protests broke out.

Another source said political factions agreed this week to move forward on reforms if the premier and government stayed in place.

“Most of the heads of major blocs agreed in a meeting to keep Adel Abdel Mahdi and maintain power in exchange for reforms on corruption and constitutional amendments,” said the source, a high-ranking member of a party that was represented at the gathering.

 

Iraq factions reach deal to save govt, end protests

Iraqs political class has reached a consensus to protect Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdis government against protests sweeping the countrys capital and south for weeks, sources told AFP yesterday. The agreement is the product of a series of meetings, including gatherings led by Major General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps foreign operations arm, the Qods Force. He has met with top leaders in Najaf and Baghdad, piling on the pressure to close ranks around Abdel Mahdi. A source present at some of those meetings told AFP Soleimani had met with populist cleric Moqtada Sadr, who had vocally backed the protests, and Mohammed Ridha Sistani, the son of Iraqs top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Those meetings resulted in an agreement that Abdel Mahdi would remain in office, the source said. Public anger erupted into demonstrations on October 1 against corruption and a lack of jobs, escalating into calls for the entire ruling system to be overturned. Abdel Mahdi, 77, came to power last year, pledging to tackle both corruption and unemployment. But he has become the target of protesters rage, accused of commandeering a bloody crackdown that has left nearly 300 dead since protests broke out. Another source said political factions agreed this week to move forward on reforms if the premier and government stayed in place. Most of the heads of major blocs agreed in a meeting to keep Adel Abdel Mahdi and maintain power in exchange for reforms on corruption and constitutional amendments, said the source, a high-ranking member of a party that was represented at the gathering.