ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi should resign over his failure to quell the protests in Basra, a spokesman for Sayirun, Muqtada al-Sadr’s list in the Iraqi parliament, has said. The pro-Iran Fatih alliance has also called for the PM to step down.
“We demand the government apologise to the people and resign immediately,” Hassan al-Aqouli, the Sayirun spokesman told a press conference.
“Frankly, the answers weren’t convincing on part of the ministerial cabinet, the relevant ministers in the face of this crisis that leaves martyrs and injured in its trail daily,” Aqouli said.
“The Sayirun alliance demands the head of the Council of Ministers, and the ministerial cabinet to offer their resignation and apologize to the Iraqi people. We also believe that this step is a brave step,” he added.
“The Sayirun bloc demands serious steps to rescue the country.”
Fatih spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi earlier denounced “the government's failure to resolve the crisis in Basra,” suggesting the list was ready to work with Sadr's group to form a government.
The attacks by the Iraqi parliament's two biggest lists could crush Abadi's dreams of continuing as PM in Iraq's new government. Abadi's Nasr (Victory) alliance had formed a bloc with Sadr's Sayirun, while Fatih (Conquest) had joined with State of Law. The future of these blocs could now be in question.
In a statement following the session, Abadi said he “regrets” the parliamentary debate degenerated into political point-scoring.
“The session was blatantly exploited as an opportunity to slander, and provide new circumstances for the alliances that the next government will be formed upon,” he said. “Despite our calling on all sides to segregate the problem of services for our people in Basra from political employment and gaining personal political gains and benefits at the expense of the people.”
Members of parliament from the Fatih bloc, with ties to the Hashd al-Shaabi, verbally sparred with those backing PM Abadi, calling on the caretaker leader to resign.
Basra governor Asaad al-Eidani, who was chairing the session, attacked Abadi's record in the southern province.
“Until today, we have not been given any income from petrodollar,” Eidani said.
“Basra is burning. What we hear from the ministers is like we live in another world. I have persistently said it in the past and say it again that the police commander takes bribes. But no one listened to me,” he added.
Abadi fired back, telling Eidani “your place is Basra, not Baghdad”.
A group of 25 MPs from across party lines said they will not support any side unless the demands of the people of Basra are met.
“Basra is without a government. Everyone does what they want to. A wave of gangs has jumped on the bandwagon of the peaceful protestors. What are the solutions? Will we just come here and talk and then leave? We have to get out at the end of the day with binding decisions,” one MP from Mosul said during the session.
“The protests have changed from the topic of demands, services such as water, electricity, and unemployment, to a different thing in the form of burning institutions and destroying them,” Jamal Mohammed MP said.
He proposed establishing a ‘Basra Development Fund’ to mitigate the issue of funds from the central government not being released fast enough to the province.
Safa al-Ghanim MP said: “In the daytime, gangs, infiltrators and outlaws surface. Where is the government today? In the coming hours of the night, quick decisions have to be made by his Excellency the Prime Minister and relevant ministers to bring things under control.”
Mithaq al-Amiri MP noted Abadi had formed a committee headed by the Minister for Oil when protests broke out a month ago, but that promises made at the time had not been kept, leading to bigger protests.
“Everyone is looking, without making any moves. The Basra province is burning. The government is responsible for everything, the destruction, the burning, and the panicking of the people, is the responsibility of the head of the council of ministers,” he added.
Thawra al-Hithi MP said: “The topic in Basra a settling of political scores, political rivalry and competition. This is no longer a secret. Everyone knows Basra’s question has been burnt to the ground due to political competition over authority.”
“When will Iraqi politicians wake up and realize that the situation isn’t like before? People’s patience has run out,” he added.
“Basra is the mother of all the good of Iraq. If it is burnt, Iraq is burnt in its entirety.”
Commander of Basra Operations Lt. Gen. Jameel al-Shammari was relieved his command, military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasool announced on Saturday afternoon.
He was replaced by Lt. Gen. Rasheed Flayih and tasked with working “closely with local leaders, youth representatives, civil society groups and others to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of Basra,” according to an official statement.
Basra has once again been put under curfew, effective 4pm on Saturday. Previous efforts to quell or disperse demonstrators have failed as government buildings have been vandalized and torched by protesters angry about government corruption and neglect of the province.
Last updated 11.55 p.m.
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