BAGHDAD: Iraqi President Barham Salih refused on Thursday to designate the nominee of an Iran-backed parliamentary bloc for prime minister, saying he would rather resign than appoint someone to the position who would be rejected by protesters.
The Bina bloc, led by Iran-backed militia leader Hadi Al-Amiri, had nominated Basra Governor Asaad Al-Edani to be the next prime minister.
But Salih said in a statement that appointing Edani would not placate protesters demanding an independent prime minister with no party affiliation or help calm the unrest that has rocked the country.
He said that because the constitution does not give him the right to reject nominees for the premiership, he was ready to quit.
"Out of my desire to stop blood and maintain peace, and with due respect to Asaad Al-Edani, I refuse to nominate him," Salih said. "Therefore I put my willingness to resign the post of president to members of parliament so that they decide as representatives of the people what they see fit."
Mass protests have gripped Iraq since Oct. 1 and the protesters, most of them young, are demanding an overhaul of a political system they see as profoundly corrupt and keeping most Iraqis in poverty. More than 450 people have been killed.
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned last month as the protests continued, but he has remained in office in a caretaker capacity.
Sources in Salih's office said the president left Baghdad on Thursday for his hometown of Sulaimaniya in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq and that he would deliver a televised speech later.
Iraqi president says he would rather quit than name PM rejected by protesters
https://arab.news/4jy4e
Iraqi president says he would rather quit than name PM rejected by protesters
- The Bina bloc had nominated Basra Governor Asaad Al-Edani to be the next PM
- But Salih said in a statement that appointing Edani would not placate protesters demanding an independent PM with no party affiliation
Jordan defends UN’s Palestine aid agency, calls for greater international support for its work
- Members of parliament meet UN Relief and Works Agency’s director of affairs in Jordan, Olaf Becker, to discuss the work it does assisting Palestinian refugees
- They condemn what they describe as the smear campaigns and Israeli legislation that have targeted the agency
AMMAN: Members of Jordan’s parliament on Thursday highlighted the vital role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and called for increased international support to sustain the services it provides.
Representatives from the parliament’s foreign affairs and Palestine committees met the agency’s director of affairs in Jordan, Olaf Becker, and the director general of the Jordanian Department of Palestinian Affairs, Rafiq Khirfan, to discuss the work it does assisting Palestinian refugees.
The chairs of the committees, Haitham Ziadin and Suleiman Saud, praised Jordan for its efforts under King Abdullah to defend Palestinian rights, halt Israeli military operations in Gaza, and advocate for a just and comprehensive resolution to the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, the Jordan News Agency reported.
They called for greater international funding for UNRWA, and condemned what they described as smear campaigns and Israeli legislation that have targeted the agency.
The MPs welcomed the recent decision by the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee to renew the agency’s mandate until June 2029, and emphasized the need to protect essential services amid escalating humanitarian challenges. They stressed Jordan’s commitment to supporting the agency, and warned that political attacks against it could threaten regional stability.
Becker reaffirmed King Abdullah’s backing for the agency, and outlined its education, health and aid programs. He also noted the challenges it faces, including funding shortfalls and disinformation campaigns.
Khirfan said Jordan continues to defend the agency and its mandate through diplomatic efforts, led by Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, to secure political and financial support.
