BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi announced on Sunday his candidacy for the May 12 parliamentary elections to choose a prime minister.
Abadi, a Shiite Muslim who led the country in the four-year war against Daesh, said he will seek to form a cross-sectarian block called “the victory alliance” to contest the parliamentary elections, with candidates from other communities.
Abadi took over the premiership in 2014 from Nuri Al-Maliki, a close ally of Iran widely criticized by Iraqi politicians for the army’s collapse as Daesh militants swept through a third of Iraq.
Maliki, who heads the Shiite Dawa party, announced on Saturday he will be running in the elections.
Abadi is a Dawa member but he didn’t secure Maliki’s endorsement for his candidacy. Al-Maliki said on Saturday Dawa supporters will be free to choose between his alliance, called “state of law,” and Abadi’s “victory alliance.”
Abadi is credited for quickly rebuilding the army and defeating Daesh in its main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, last July, with strong assistance from a US-led coalition.
Maliki holds the ceremonial title of vice president. He remains a powerful political figure as head of the Dawa and the largest political block in the current parliament.
The prime minister’s office is reserved for Iraq’s majority Shiite Arab community under a power-sharing system set up after the 2003 U.S-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab.
The largely ceremonial office of president is reserved for a Kurdish member of parliament. The speaker of parliament is drawn from Sunni Arab MPs.
The parliament is yet to approve the May 12 date for the elections.
Iraqi PM Abadi to seek re-election in May vote
Iraqi PM Abadi to seek re-election in May vote
Israel detains Al-Aqsa imam as PA warns of escalation during Ramadan
- Israeli authorities have prohibited 250 people from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque since January
- Knesset member Amit Halevi called for Jewish prayers at the site during Ramadan
LONDON: Israeli authorities detained Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abbasi, the imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque, from within the mosque’s courtyards as 222 settlers stormed the site on Monday.
The Palestinian Authority warned of an Israeli escalation at the Al-Aqsa compound in the walled city of occupied East Jerusalem, ahead of and during the fasting month of Ramadan, which starts this week.
The Jerusalem Governorate reported that Israeli authorities have prohibited 250 people from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque since January. This week, they prevented the Jerusalem Endowments Council from preparing for Ramadan by blocking the installation of umbrellas for sun and rain protection, and the setup of temporary clinics, according to Wafa news agency.
The governorate also condemned the visit of Israeli Knesset member Amit Halevi to Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday, accompanied by Israeli police. It said that Halevi’s incursion was part of a provocative tour with the “Temple Mount Administration,” amid rising Israeli calls to change the reality at Al-Aqsa Mosque and alter the historic status quo.
Halevi advocated continuing what he described as “Jewish prayers” at the site during the month of Ramadan, Wafa added.
The governorate also reported that Israeli forces issued a six-month ban on freed prisoner and Al-Aqsa Mosque guard Fadi Alyan from entering the mosque.
