Medical and Hospital News  
IRAQ WARS
Iraq's Sadr backs early vote in rare appearance
by AFP Staff Writers
Najaf, Iraq (AFP) Feb 10, 2021

Populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr said Wednesday he backed early elections overseen by the UN, in a rare press conference outside his home in the Iraqi shrine city of Najaf.

Iraq is meant to hold early parliamentary elections this year, a central demand of an anti-government protest movement which erupted in 2019 and involved Sadr's supporters.

The elections were initially set for June, nearly a year ahead of schedule, but have since been pushed back to October.

Appearing in a surgical mask and traditional clerical robes, Sadr warned against further delays.

"Delaying the elections would be a disaster for Iraq," said Sadr, warning that rival parties would try to rig the vote.

"I don't want fraud. That's why I'm asking for UN intervention and supervision," he said.

The elections will be taking place under a new electoral law that has reduced the size of constituencies and eliminated list-based voting in favour of votes for individual candidates.

Sadr's supporters are expected to make major gains under the new system.

In November, Sadr said he would push for the next prime minister to be a member of his movement for the first time.

On Tuesday, leading Sadrist lawmaker Hakim al-Zameli upped the ante in a televised interview.

"If the premiership goes to any party other than the Sadrist movement, it means the elections are rigged," he said.

His comments came a day after Sadr supporters equipped with heavy weapons took to the streets of Najaf and other cities, including Baghdad.

They stood guard along major highways in a show of force lasting a few hours.


Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


IRAQ WARS
Iraq hangs five 'terrorism' convicts: security sources
Nasiriyah, Iraq (AFP) Feb 9, 2021
Iraq on Tuesday hanged five people convicted on "terrorism" charges in a notorious southern prison, security sources said, despite an international outcry in recent months over the country's execution record. The five men, all Iraqi, were executed in the Nasiriyah prison in Dhi Qar province, the only one in Iraq that carries out capital punishment, the security sources told AFP. Iraqis fearfully refer to Nasiriyah jail as Al-Hut, the Arabic word for "whale," describing it as a vast prison compl ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

IRAQ WARS
'Run!': India glacier disaster survivors recount tunnel escape

Anger as hopes fade for Indian workers after glacier disaster

S.African women turn to guns to fight assault, murder scourge

Digital platform helps rescue services during natural disasters

IRAQ WARS
Beidou satellite helps with shared electric bikes

EDMO Distributors signs distribution agreement with AvMap Satellite Navigation

Carbon-coated thread could be used to track movement in real time

European Commission awards launch contracts for next generation of Galileo satellites

IRAQ WARS
Some of our gut microbiota predates the human-Neanderthal split

Our gut-brain connection

Pace of prehistoric human innovation could be revealed by 'linguistic thermometer'

Milk-stained teeth reveal early dairy consumption in Africa

IRAQ WARS
Bangladesh bans cattle painkiller to save vultures

Bolivia probes deaths of 35 endangered condors

World's tiniest reptile found in Madagascar

African coelacanth fish evolved dozens of new genes just 10M years ago

IRAQ WARS
Facebook ramps up effort to curb vaccine hoaxes

Covid origins still a mystery as WHO-China probe ends

WHO team probing Covid origins in China to brief media

WHO expert slams US pandemic intel as curbs tightened in Europe

IRAQ WARS
China chages Australian journalist for supplying state secrets; HK radio star arrested for sedition

Hong Kong leader confirms no consular protection for dual nationals

Hong Kong's top court denies bail to media tycoon Jimmy Lai

Hong Kong's top court denies bail to media tycoon Jimmy Lai

IRAQ WARS
IRAQ WARS








The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.