Iraq's Sadr stages Shi'ite show of force before summit

Mon Mar 19, 2012

(Reuters) - Up to a million followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Monday in a massive show of force before an Arab League summit which Iraq's long-oppressed Shi'ite majority view as their debut on the regional stage.

The protest in the southern city of Basra marked the anniversary of the start of the U.S. invasion in 2003. Slogans were mainly directed at the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for failing to improve the lives of Iraq's poor.

But the main context appears to be the March 27-29 Arab League summit, the first in Iraq in more than 20 years and the first ever hosted by a mainstream Shi'ite Arab ruler.

Basra police estimated the size of the crowd at between 700,000 and 1 million. A Reuters correspondent on the scene said it was clear at least several hundred thousand were there.

Sadr's followers frequently hold demonstrations denouncing Sunni rulers of other Arab states, especially Bahrain and its ally Saudi Arabia, for cracking down on Shi'ite protesters last year. The last demonstration on March 9 saw Saudi flags burned.

Monday's demonstration, by contrast, seemed to show a deliberate effort to avoid antagonizing Arab neighbors by channeling protesters' anger into domestic grievances.

There is no shortage of such outrage in a country where oil wealth has yet to alleviate dire poverty. Nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein - a Sunni who oppressed Shi'ites - most Iraqis have electricity only a few hours a day.

Men and women travelled from across Iraq to protest bearing Iraqi flags and portraits of Sadr. They carried black caskets labeled "Electricity", "Education" and "Democracy".

"We came to call for the removal of injustice against Iraqis ... There are no jobs. We are living in bad conditions without services," said Latiaf Kadhim, who came hundreds of miles from Kerbala to participate in the demonstration in Basra.

Muttashar Saeed, who had travelled from Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood, said: "Lawmakers are looking out for themselves while the state ignores the poor. We want the attention of officials who are busy with their own affairs in their comfortable chairs and armored vehicles."

SECURITY TIGHT IN BAGHDAD

Although the rhetoric has an internal target, such a massive show of Shi'ite power highlights the awkwardness for some Sunni Arab neighbors in embracing Baghdad, which after Saddam's fall became the Arab world's only mainstream Shi'ite-led state.

All the leaders at next week's summit will be Sunni Muslims except Maliki. Syria's Bashar al-Assad, a member of the small Alawite minority sect, is not invited because the Arab League suspended the membership of Damascus.

Sadr, who led uprisings against the U.S. presence before American troops withdrew last year but is now a key member of Maliki's ruling coalition, has banned protests during the summit to show "hospitality" to the guests.

Holding Monday's protest in Basra rather than Baghdad helps Maliki's assertion that the capital is safe for the summit.

Authorities in Baghdad took no chances on Monday, imposing a security operation with checkpoints conducting thorough searches that snarled morning rush-hour traffic for hours.

Most of the world's Muslims are Sunnis, but Shi'ites are the majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and in pockets throughout the Middle East, including parts of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

The Middle East's Sunni-Shi'a divide, which led to sectarian civil war that killed tens of thousands of Iraqis in 2006-07, has intensified in other parts of the region, notably Bahrain, where a Sunni royal family rules a Shi'ite majority, and Syria.

Iraq has been more reluctant than other Arab states to support the mainly Sunni opposition groups fighting Syria's Assad, and has been one of the few Arab states to criticize the crackdown on Shi'ite protests in Bahrain.

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Almrobei Council calls on ministers to activate the customs tariff law

Monday, March 19 / March 2012

The member of the parliamentary economic committee Hussein Almrobei Council of Ministers to activate the customs tariff law No. [22] for the year 2010.

He said in a press statement received by all of Iraq [where] a copy of it on Monday that the "pillars of the economic process such as industry, agriculture and other institutions need to support laws to protect the national product by the law of customs tariffs on foreign goods."

He Almrobei that "the customs tariff is an important anti Products harmful to health such as cigarettes, alcohol, etc., in addition to support for the fiscal revenues of the budget and the protection of the national product," adding that "the law of customs tariff should not include food products, pharmaceutical and materials necessary for the citizen."

He continued that "the law in the event included items appropriate, will contribute to the operation of factories in the private and public sectors and solve the problem of unemployment, because of what will be presented to support the local product who has been missing since 2003."

He Almrobei that "the law of customs tariff No. [22] for the year 2010 was suspended and traced back to the Council of Ministers in order to provide an integrated study and solve problems which raised about the high prices on the purchasing power and the preparation of the infrastructure of the factories in order to fill the gap and capacity building controls to prevent corruption and smuggling ".

He was a member of the Committee of Economy and Investment parliamentary Qusai al-Abadi, said in an earlier statement that "his committee discussed the law of customs tariff for different materials, especially agricultural products and other", noting that "work is underway to give effect to this Act in addition to many projects in the process of discussion."

It is said that the House of Representatives decided to suspend the customs Tariff Act No. [22] for the year 2010 to be implemented in the thirtieth of June next, and traced back to the Council of Ministers in order to determine the appropriate time to apply it according to economic requirements. Ended

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Sangaree: Iraq is forced to the commitment of the UN resolutions on Kuwait and to restore normal in the region

Monday, March 19 / March 2012

The MP said the Iraqi List, Knight Sangaree that "Iraq is obliged to comply with UN resolutions on the demarcation of the border with Kuwait and to restore normal in the region."

He Sangaree told all of Iraq [where] the day that I "do not agree to give the new territory of the State of Kuwait, but the UN resolutions on Kuwait is obliged to Iraq and it adhered to in order to return to normal as an independent state in the region."

He explained that "many of the issues had been forcibly imposed on Iraq by the United Nations when the former regime's invasion of Kuwait, including the demarcation of the border and the issue of debt, noting that" all these things is a disadvantage against Iraq and its people. "

The resolution 833, passed by the Security Council in 1993, three years after the Second Gulf War set the border between the two countries, Kuwait and the granting of land belonged to Iraq in the past.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his accompanying delegation paid a visit to Kuwait last Wednesday, a day-long one at the invitation of his counterpart Prime Minister of Kuwait and met the emir of Kuwait and President of the National Assembly During the visit, resolving a number of files, including the demarcation of the border and end the file of Iraqi Airways, while not be announced during access to the results of this visit for a number of other files, and most important of which Alaweidat file and remove Iraq from Chapter VII. "ended 2

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Iraqi Finance confirms Iraq's ability to pay the dues of Kuwait

19/03/2012

Baghdad, March 19 / March (Rn) - The Iraqi Ministry of Finance, on Monday, to its potential and its ability to pay the amounts agreed to by the Government of Iraq with Kuwait, and special Iraqi Airways and $ 300 million in cash, at the time called on the government to accelerate in finding the formula for investment amounts the remaining $ 200 million.

The delegation, which visited Kuwait last week, led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki have agreed to settle the issue of Iraqi Airways with the Kuwaiti side of the Iraq paid the amount of $ 500 million to Kuwait, to be half the amount in cash as given to the Kuwait Investment in Iraq worth the second half.

He said Finance Minister Rafie al-Issawi, told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "our visit to Kuwait was a success and was open all the files, where the focus was on file, Iraqi Airways and the issue of stent border," adding that "That 'drop the lawsuits against the payment of dues Iraqi Airways" .

Issawi said that "the agreement will be presented to the House of Representatives do not think that one of the blocks would object to this, noting that" the Ministry of Finance have the potential to pay the money but still it is up to parliament to vote on the agreement. "

He added that "the government today to find a mechanism to accelerate the process of investing in other sums amounting to $ 200 million, for the completion of this subject."

The British authorities detained in April 25 of 2010, Iraqi aircraft from Baghdad to London after the cessation of flights between the two countries as long as 20 years old, and was on board, 30 passengers of Iraqis and foreigners, including former Transport Minister Amir Abdul-Jabbar, director of Iraqi Airways struggle Well, because of the action on the Kuwaiti damage to the aircraft by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, demanding payment of one billion and 200 million for Kuwait Airways.

The Iraqi Council of Ministers adopted a resolution in May of 2010 and the abolition of the liquidation of Iraqi Airways, offer for sale to companies, civil, and also decided to cancel all the administrative structures associated with them, while retaining its staff after the sale to a private company.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon has urged Iraq on November 16 of 2009 to fulfill its obligations to Kuwait, in particular Security Council resolution No. 833 on the demarcation of the border between them to get out of the penalty provisions of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

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Economist expects higher inflation due to the increase in food prices

Monday 19/03/2012

Baghdad (news) .. Expect a specialist in economic affairs Mohammad Ali Dargham high rates of inflation for the month, due to the increase in food prices during the current period, especially the price of vegetables and fruits.
Said Mohammad Ali (of the Agency news) said on Monday: There is preventing full import outside of the vegetables and fruits by the Ministry of Agriculture under the pretext of supporting the local product, which led to increases in food prices in local markets, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture has remained silent in front of this elevation, indicating that they do not know what is happening in the local Alosouk.
He called for: the need to minimize the import of foreign fruits and vegetables and not a complete prohibition, and that the process is for a limited period until the entry into force of the local stock of food, because it would hurt the Iraqi economy in terms of high rates of inflation in the country.

He favored the competent economic affairs: the increase of inflation rates during the month in contrast to the previous months in the event of continuing the State and the Ministry of Agriculture to prevent the import of foreign food and work to reduce their prices in local markets.
This may be seen in the domestic market, a big increase prices of food, especially vegetables and fruits as a result of the Ministry of Agriculture to prevent the importation of such material from abroad to support the local product. / Finished / 8. D. Q /

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Analysts: Barzani can solve problems with Baghdad

19/03/2012

Baghdad, March 19 / March (Rn) - Political analysts say that the Government of the upcoming seventh Barzani could solve the outstanding problems between Baghdad and Erbil, especially those related to oil contracts and the management of oil wealth in the country and one of the disputed areas as well as the administrative relationship between the two sides.

Being Barzani since the beginning of this month, consultations with political parties and personalities for the purpose of forming a government with broad popular base, but the opposition of the movement of change and the Islamic Group and the Islamic Union announced on its survival.

Barzani is expected a number of files at the domestic level in the region and other controversial issues related with Baghdad for years relating to oil and the disputed areas, and others.

He says political analyst Manaf Abu loaf, told the Kurdish news agency (Rn) that "Barzani is characterized by charismatic accept the other opinion and has flexible substrates can negotiate with the federal government and to make concessions as prescribed by the Constitution of Iraq."

He said, "Barzani important strides are made in the House to put right the Kurdish internal despite the fact that non-participation of the opposition has been heard that Nechirvan visited all the political parties in the region to work from strength, this important feature."

He pointed out that "Baghdad look with anticipation to the step that will be the Barzani of the files and look seriously to end the crisis according to the new vision of the federal Iraq."

And fought the federal governments of Baghdad and the Kurdistan region several rounds of negotiations over the past years on the outstanding issues, but they can not reach after solutions to them.

Comes on top of these files are problem areas disputed between the parties and which is due to be resolved under Article 140 of the constitution, but the face of the Kurdistan region of the finger more than once to Baghdad not being serious and delay in resolving this file.

It was scheduled to end implementation of the constitutional article at the end of 2007, and related areas conducted by the former regime, demographic changes in favor of Arabs at the expense of the Kurds and other nationalities, including the province of Kirkuk and parts of the provinces of Nineveh and Diyala, Salah al-Din.

It is also a oil problem other basic relationship between the two sides, and refuses to Baghdad to recognize oil contracts signed by the Erbil with foreign companies to develop oil fields in the region as well as the existence of differences over the draft law of oil and gas, says the region that Baghdad is seeking to focus the authorities in her hand with respect to the management of oil wealth.

He says political analyst Jassim al-Musawi's (Rn) that "Arbil and Baghdad, they can resolve the outstanding issues between them if there are indeed sincere intention to resolve it, as it disputes solved by just refer to the Constitution," noting that "Barzani may work to set up a specialized committee to discuss with Baghdad. "

He says, "Barzani certainly can not alone solve all these issues unless it is supported by all parties in the region and interact with the Baghdad government and show flexibility in the Kurdish demands."

The head of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, had commissioned on the seventh of March, March, Barzani to form a government of the seventh province and Imad Ahmad as his deputy.

The Kurdistan Regional Government consists of the outgoing of 19 ministries and four ministers without portfolio, being the distribution of most government positions in line between the parties.

Barzani stressed during his meetings in the past few days with opposition parties in the Kurdistan Region that he would work with them during the period he was chairman of the line-up for the next two years, despite the lack of participation in the upcoming squad.

It seems that the quest for the Barzani Kurdish internal house in order prior to the formation of his government will give more support to enter into a new round of negotiations with Baghdad.

But political analyst Ibrahim al-Bayati, see Speaking (Rn) that "the problems between Baghdad and Erbil, a deeper change of prime minister in Erbil because it is a large and controversial problems of the Constitution even stop then."

He explained that "Nechirvan may be elected prime minister of the region a catalyst to end the part of these problems but it certainly is unable to finish all the problems of contention."

According to Al-Bayati, the "Barzani preoccupied with the internal conditions of the region, particularly the provincial elections, and the issue of meeting the popular protests with the pressure exerted by the opposition forces as well as to attract the global economic work of the region and to convince the countries in the world opened consulates in Irbil and the evolution of the education sector and boost the income of the individual and the development banks and other of problems waiting to be opened by Barzani and that poses solutions. "

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Debate on the feasibility of the application of tariff and its impact on the Iraqi economy

19/03/2012

Baghdad, March 19 (Rn) - The Economic Commission representative, Monday, the activation of a law tariff will provide revenue of financially additional to the state treasury could be invested in the revitalization of agricultural and industrial sectors, while Asher Economists futility of activating the law, which will carry with it the negative aspects, stressing that the protection of the Iraqi economy is not by increasing taxes.

The Ministry of Finance announced yesterday it had decided to activate the tariff law in Iraq in June next, after postponing the implementation of the law to two consecutive terms.

The Ministry of Finance decided in September last to stop the introduction of tariffs until this year due to higher commodity prices, high price in the country.

The Ministry of Finance of Iraq was postponed in February 16 last tariff law work for an unspecified time because of some obstacles faced by the law and the mechanisms of action.

The decision of the parliamentary economic committee Mahma Khalil told the Kurdish news agency (Rn), "The Ministry of Trade and Commercial Control monitors Astaqraralsouk Iraq even after the application of tariff law, we are activating the law which will provide additional financial revenue to the state treasury."

He explained that the decision of the Economic Committee, "There are four laws began in the previous parliamentary session a consumer protection law and the protection of the product and the Iraqi anti-monopoly and tariff laws, and this is the full cycle of economic life."

In response to a fear of rising prices in the Iraqi market after the imposition of taxes on importers in accordance with the tariff law explained the Commission's decision that "the fragmentation of the fear comes from the need to go the money collected from the application of law to the compensation fund for farmers, farmers and industrialists Iraqis in order to be revenue available supplies for their work in the agricultural and industrial production. "

He said also, "it must be there to support the local product and that the State shall distribute industrial and agricultural supplies in accordance with the regulations and at subsidized prices so that there is encouragement for the local product." He said.

It was hoped to be activation of the Tariff Act in March / March last year after being passed by the Iraqi Council of Representatives.

The new law eliminates the tariff law issue by the civil governor Paul Bremer and the subject of all goods imported into the discount rate of 5% in taxes, while the new law discriminatory tariff starts from zero and up to 30%.

While counting the Iraqi government and the parliamentary economic committee of the activation code to activate the customs tariff of the Iraqi economy over the rival goods imported Economists believe that the application of the law will reflect negatively on the economy and the citizen will bear the consequences.

The economist said Majid picture's (Rn), "The purpose of the imposition of customs duties is not known until now if it is intended to provide resources to balance the question the other hand do we need this money the few and trivial compared with the financial possibilities of the enormous of Iraq, and if the goal is to protect industry The local farm is not in this way is to provide protection for the Iraqi economy. "

Image is clear that the "industry and agriculture protected by providing possibilities for its functioning and the most important electricity and exemption from taxes and labor restrictions, control and leave."

He said the picture saying, "If the goal of imposing customs duties to protect the Iraqi economy will not protect because it will lead to increased cost to the Iraqi consumer, (...) tax is a fee indirectly are downloadable on importers and this is reflected in the Iraqi consumer and thus will lead to increase prices and through want to say that the Iraqi industry require high costs. "

Image stressed that "the development of industry and agriculture should not be at the expense of the citizen, but must be programmed to provide huge potential for the purpose of reducing the cost to producers."

The Law on Customs Tariff on the repeal of the tariff number (77) for the year 1955, and ordered the Coalition Provisional Authority (dissolved) No. (54) for the year 2004 (the policy of trade liberalization of 2004), and ordered the CPA No. 38 of 2003 (Tax reconstruction of Iraq and its amendments) , and stressed that the law does not work, or any instructions or regulations conflict with the provisions of this law.

Local retailers say that the Iraqi government as soon as narrowing the movement of trucks from Syria, carrying goods as a result of the Arab summit has led to rising prices in the domestic market, wondering what this will get the government imposed a tax on importers?.

Hameed said the grave, the owner of the Karrada commercial market (Rn), "The merchants have raised this week and prices for all goods and the reason is the narrow entry of trucks into Iraq because of the actions of the Arab summit, and we fear that rising prices to levels unimaginable."

The grave, "we heard the Iraqi government's decision on the application of tariff decision next June and we tell them will bear the responsibility of higher prices in the market, without a doubt will be located on the citizen and the shoulder, but everyone will be affected."

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Vice with him: the rule of law is serious about holding the National Conference and the timing is up to the Preparatory Committee

Monday 19/03/2012

Baghdad (news) .. stressed the leadership of the coalition of state law MP / National Alliance / Shaker Darraji, the mass that is serious about holding the National Convention, and that the timing of his contract is up to the Preparatory Committee.
Daraji said in a statement (of the Agency news) said on Monday: There is no evidence of a stalling of the National Alliance in the conference, even though we Nmatal what we participated in the cheeks preparations and three, indicating that the National is serious about the conference, but his contract is up to the preparations.
He Darraji: The important thing is not in the timing of the conference, but the results will come out of it, he needs to develop mechanisms and agenda and the issues that adopt and discussed during, and this requires agreed upon.
Earlier, the leader of the movement of the solution deputy / coalition in Iraq / Tareq Ziad worldwide abolition, public opinion is convinced of the continuity of the political crisis is not resolved whether to hold the National Congress or others.
The worldwide abolition (the news): At the beginning it emphasized that the crisis will continue until the end of the second round of elections, stressing the need to alleviate the conflicts of the political blocs and convergence of views to provide services to citizens and Ostbab security.
The Iraqi MP: that public opinion has become convinced not to resolve the political crisis gripping the country, as well as crises that Stlhakha, and the National Congress or other meetings of the political blocs does not solve the political problems, calling for partners in the political process, especially those who paid with the power to implement what was agreed upon when forming the government. / Finished / 7. for. m /

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