Iraqi PM promises electoral reform, discourages disturbance as factions reach deal to back govt.
Iraq’s prime minister says he recognizes the contribution that protests can make to political reforms, but urges against their interruption of day-to-day life in the Arab country.
In a statement on Saturday, Adel Abdul-Mahdi considered the demonstrations to be a legitimate engine for political reformation.
Nevertheless, he urged demonstrators not to interrupt the course of “normal life” in the country, which has suffered economically as a result of the unrest.
“The protests have helped and will help pressure political groups, the government...to reform and accept change. However, continuing protests must allow for a return to normal life, which will lead to legitimate demands being met,” Abdul-Mahdi said.
The protests, which began more than a month ago, were first peaceful but later turned violent.
They receded, though, after a Friday statement by Iraq’s most prominent Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who declared “peacefulness of protests in their various forms should be paid a great attention.” Ayatollah Sistani also called on security forces to avoid using excessive force.
Earlier on Saturday, AFP reported that security forces had regained control over three bridges in the central parts of Baghdad, ending days-long partial blockade of them by anti-government protesters.
Efforts were also underway to clear protest camps in the port city of Basra and the holy city of Karbala.
Abdul-Mahdi, meanwhile, on Saturday promised investigations into reported fatalities and said new electoral reforms would be announced in the “coming few days.”
Earlier this month, President Barham Salih said Abdul-Mahdi was willing to resign once political leaders agreed on a replacement.
However, meetings held by various political factions to remedy dominating predicaments “resulted in an agreement that Abdul-Mahdi would remain in office," one source told AFP.
The 77-year-old came to power last year, pledging to tackle both corruption and unemployment.
An unnamed high-ranking member of a party that was represented at one gathering also said the factions had agreed this week to move forward on reforms “on corruption and constitutional amendments." "They agreed to end the protests with any means possible," the official added.
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