Suspect arrested for banking fraud totaling SR493 million as Nazaha pursues corruption charges    Arab leaders and heads of state congratulate US President-elect Donald Trump    Neymar suffers muscle tear, out for 4-6 weeks    Crown Prince, Pakistan Army Chief discuss ways to enhance military cooperation    Crown Prince aspires to strengthen strategic US-Saudi ties in call with Trump    Crown Prince hails Saudi medical team that performed world's first fully robotic heart transplant    Prince Badr signs MoUs with Al-Qasabi and Al-Falih to empower entrepreneurs and boost investments in cultural sector    Quality of life of Madinah residents and enriching visitor experience highlighted in Cairo event    Trump sweeps to historic victory as swing states turn red    Heavy Equipment and Truck Show to spotlight Tata Motors' cutting-edge mobility solutions    IKEA Alsulaiman opens Madinah store as part of an ambitious expansion plan in the Kingdom    Trump's claim of 'massive cheating' in Philadelphia rejected by officials    China is building new villages on its remote Himalayan border    Netanyahu fires Israeli Defense Minister after months of clashes over war and politics    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Top climber falls to death after rare Himalayan feat    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    Quincy Jones, titan of US music, dies aged 91    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Iraq moves to head off demos as protester killed
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 02 - 2011

BAGHDAD: Iraq scrambled to head off further protests Monday by cutting politicians' pay and ramping up support for the needy after a teenage demonstrator was killed at a rally in the country's north.
Protests in recent weeks have taken place nationwide, in Iraq's Sunni, Shiite and Kurd areas, railing against corruption, high levels of unemployment and poor provision of basic services such as clean water and electricity.
On Monday, the Iraqi government said it would postpone the implementation of a planned law that would increase import tariffs, a day after MPs cut their salaries and those of ministers and raised funds allocated to a ration card programme that provides food for six million families. “Parliament is working to achieve all the demands of the population,” Osama al-Nujaifi, the speaker of the Council of Representatives, told a Baghdad news conference on Monday after lawmakers approved the 2011 budget. “The budget of 2011 is ambitious and has lots of positives for the Iraqi people,” he added. “It has projects for housing, agriculture, education and infrastructure.”
The latest moves came after 17-year-old Sherko Mohammed was killed when security forces fired into the air amid clashes with demonstrators Sunday evening in the northern Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah.
A further 48 people were wounded at the rally, said Sulaimaniyah province health chief Raykot Hama Rashid. Mohammed's death was the third in demonstrations in the city and the fourth nationwide in recent days. The protesters Sunday evening had been attempting to move towards the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Sulaimaniyah. At the same location Thursday, two young demonstrators were killed and 54 others wounded when security forces again fired into the air. But security forces blocked their progress, sparking Sunday's clashes.
The KDP, led by regional president Massud Barzani, and the PUK, led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, have lorded over Kurdistan for decades. Along with the protests in Sulaimaniyah, demonstrations have also been staged in and around the cities of Baghdad, Kut, Nasiriyah, Diwaniyah, Ramadi and Basra, with the Kut rally leaving one person dead and dozens injured.
In response, Iraq's cabinet announced Monday it would suspend a law that was to be implemented in two weeks that would raise tariffs on imports and thereby increase prices on goods nationwide.


Clic here to read the story from its source.