WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV Newsroom's headlines from 0900 GMT to 1700 GMT, April 6, 2019.

Iran-Iraq ties

The Iranian president says Tehran and Baghdad should forge closer cooperation to fight terrorism. Hassan Rouhani made the call at a joint press conference with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. He urged the two neighbors to cooperate and boost their border security in order to combat drug trafficking and the smuggling of goods. Rouhani said he also discussed a host of regional issues during the meeting with the Iraqi premier. He said both Iran and Iraq believe that Jerusalem al-Quds should be the capital of Palestine and that the Golan Heights is an integral part of Syria. He added that the two neighbors are also in favor of a political solution to end the war on Yemen. The Iraqi premier, in turn, thanked Tehran for supporting Baghdad and stressed the need for further mutual cooperation.

Venezuela rival rallies

Venezuela is bracing for yet another rival rallies in response to calls by opposition leader Juan Guaido and President Nicolas Maduro. US-backed Guaido has urged his supporters to demonstrate on Saturday to maintain pressure on Maduro. He has capitalized on massive blackouts and the collapse of water supplies in the country to hammer his call for unseating the country’s president. Venezuelan authorities have blamed the US sabotage for the recent blackouts. Meanwhile, Maduro has called for a pro-government rally in Caracas dubbed "March in Defense of Peace." The Latin American country is embroiled in the political crisis ever since the opposition leader declared himself interim president. On Tuesday, lawmakers stripped Guaido of his parliamentary immunity and authorized the top court to prosecute him for proclaiming himself president.

France protests

The French capital Paris is once again filled with yellow vest protesters who have vowed to continue their anti-government rallies. On the 21th consecutive weekend of protests, the demonstrators gathered at the Arc de Triumph and then marched along the Champs-Elysees. The rally is held despite heavy police presence in the French capital. Yellow vest protests started in mid-November as an outcry against President Emmanuel Macron’s planned fuel price hikes. But they snowballed into a national movement, rejecting Macron's policies and his leadership.

Sudan protests

Thousands of protesters are marching towards the residence of Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. Witnesses say people are marching on the compound from three directions in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. They are also said to be heading towards the defense ministry. Witnesses also say a group of protesters have reached the headquarters of the country's army for the first time. Security forces have reportedly used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. The rallies are the latest in a series of anti-government demonstrations that began in December. What initially began as protests against bread prices grew into wide scale calls for President Omar al-Bashir to step down.

Slamming US, EU arms sales

The head of the Roman Catholic Church has blamed the US and Europe for the bloodshed in the Middle East by increasing arms sales in areas of conflict. Pope Francis called upon the young generation to hold western powers accountable for such violations. He urged the youth to be outspoken in the face of the unjust economic systems and the production of arms that make people kill each other. The pontiff insisted a country that produces and sells weapons has on its conscience the death of every child, and the destruction of every family. Pope Francis also defended the rights of migrants, saying that they are not criminals. He added that migrants bring wealth because Europe has been made by migrants.

Iran flood evacuations

Iran’s interior minister says hundreds of thousands of people in the southwestern province of Khuzestan have been exposed to the recent floods. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said the authorities, in a given situation, have to choose between the lesser of two evils. He reassured flood victims that the government will compensate for their losses. Meanwhile, Khuzestan’s governor has ordered the total and immediate evacuation of several cities. Unprecedented floods triggered by heavy rains wreaked havoc across the country two weeks ago, killing at least 70 people so far. Aid and rescue operations are still underway in the affected areas.

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