KTFA:

Samson:  KRG to Dispatch Delegation to Baghdad for Budget, Census Talks

2nd October, 2019
A high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) will visit Baghdad next Tuesday, KRG envoy in the Iraqi capital said.

Speaking to BasNews, Faris Isa said the delegation will meet with the Iraqi counterparts to discuss Erbil concerns over 2020’s budget bill and the planned nationwide census.

The delegation will include Omed Sabah, head of Divan at KRG’s Council of Ministers, Khalid Shwani, Minister of State, and Dara Rashid, Minister of Planning.  LINK

2Cents:  Finally.........Just in time rolling into next weekend/the 15th/the Holiday........

C'mon Kurds.......Get 'er Done!!!!

Remember, Frank said they would not come until after______  I hope he is right!!!!  If that is the case, we should know in relative hours and therefore:  C'mon Alak........Get 'er Done!!!

GodLover:  Although I personally think that the blessing can only happen after Kurdistan issues are resolved, I do find it crazy how many times this visit has been pushed down the road imo. And as I had stated previous & still agree....the timing is curious imo.

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Samson:  Kuwait calls on its citizens not to travel to Iraq 

An official source in the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry called on Kuwaiti citizens who intend to travel to Iraq to wait and not travel for the time being as a result of the unrest and demonstrations in a number of Iraqi cities.

The source called on citizens who are currently there to leave as soon as possible and to take the utmost care and to stay away from gatherings and demonstrations and follow the instructions of the local authorities so that the date of departure is possible.

In the past, Iran and Bahrain have called on their citizens not to go to Iraq, especially those who seek religious shrines to revive the 40th anniversary of Imam Hussein on April 20.    LINK

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Samson:  A fifth country urges its citizens not to travel to Iraq

4th October, 2019
The Qatari Foreign Ministry urged its citizens not to travel to Iraq on Friday against the backdrop of an escalation of demonstrations and protest movement that caused deaths and injuries.

Previously, Turkey has called on Iran, Bahrain and Kuwait to stop traveling to Iraq, especially those who seek religious shrines to revive the 40th anniversary of Imam Hussein on April 20.  LINK

Samson:  Video: Death Toll rises to 20 as Unrest Spreads

4th October, 2019
The death toll from three days of mass anti-government protests in Iraq has risen to 20, with hundreds more wounded as authorities imposed curfew in several cities and cut internet access across much of the country to quell unrest.

The protests, which began in capital Baghdad on Tuesday, are mostly spontaneous and without political leadership, staged by disenchanted youth demanding jobs, improved services, such as electricity and water, and an end to Iraq’s endemic corruption.

The demonstrations have since spread to cities across the mainly Shia south, making it the most serious challenge to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s year-old government.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid has the latest:  IN ENGLISH  VIDEO LINK      LINK

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Samson:  Death toll in Iraqi protests rises to 35 as protesters break curfew

4th October, 2019

The death toll in three days of protests has risen to 35 and more than 1,000 wounded

Demonstrators defied the curfew, which took effect in the Iraqi capital Baghdad at dawn on Thursday, coinciding with the decision to form a committee to deal with the demands of the demonstrators.

On Tuesday, Iraq witnessed the launch of a protest movement demanding the departure of the "corrupt" and securing job opportunities for young people, which now extended to most southern cities.

Iraqi security forces again fired live ammunition on Thursday to disperse demonstrators gathered in central Baghdad despite a curfew that went into effect at dawn

This new day is a real test for the government of Adel Abdul Mahdi, which at the end of this month completes its first year in power

Since Tuesday, social discontent between resentment of corruption, unemployment and lack of public services has spread to cities in the south of the country. To date, this movement seems to be spontaneous. No political or religious party or
leader has expressed support for it, in what is considered a precedent in Iraq

Riot police fired "live bullets" into the air to disperse dozens of demonstrators who lit tires in Tahrir Square and repelled the protesters towards sub-streets adjacent to the main gathering place

Tahrir Square is a traditional starting point for demonstrations in Baghdad, separated from the Green Zone by the al-Jumhuriya Bridge, where security forces have been tightened since Tuesday. LINK

Pattycakes77:  It is quite obvious that the government does not care about the citizens. As long as they have food, money and shelter that is all they care about. We will see how this unfolds and for how long. If they cared they would of rv their currency. But hell this is Iraq and iraq will do whatever they want. We wait and see if they rv next week. If not imo we wait till 2020. I hope i am wrong. This is all insane to me  

ChrisC:  This is all IMO, but if any of you think 30 some people got killed and this is going to 2020, you might want to rethink that plan. 

As I commented to somebody the other day, Muslims tend towards burning the house down when they start protesting, especially when you have been getting your water from a truck for the last decade and you watch government officials playing in the pool at their villa.  It makes me want to go over there and join them!!  All of these officials can clearly remember what it looked like to see Saddam swinging.  Saddam.  You think they want to get any taller? 

The CBI didn't send those trucks out for no reason and they didn't do it to leave those notes sitting in satellite banks for months.  These politicians may be Iranian influenced, but they are not in Iran. 

This kind of reminds me of moving cattle in a large herd; a little concern turns into fear which turns into panic which turns into a stampede.  When they stampede you can't stop them and they are liable to do a whole bunch of damage. 

 I reckon somebody is going to calm them down real soon.

Popeye7:  It is sad the loss of life in all of this... But the timing of this will not be denied... And there is a time for this.. All of the progress, agreements, and economic treaties that have been signed in the past year will be fulfilled... There are circumstances that go on behind the scenes that we do not control... This will get done.. What better time than in the midst of a crisis situation that in reality will calm the restless natives...

Samson:  The curfew is causing a crisis in Baghdad markets

4th October, 2019
The curfew announced by Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi in Baghdad caused a crisis in the food markets in the capital.

Witnesses said that the fruit and vegetable markets appeared to be devoid of material because of banditry and the prevention of movement between one area to another, causing the closure of the main capital in the capital and the inability of vendors to obtain the materials.

At the same time, filling stations witnessed a sharp congestion in the preparation of cars, while the prices of cooking gas bottles to the high limits that the Iraqi family is unable to provide.

Observers warned that the aggravation of this situation will increase public anger and escalate the pace of demonstrations rather than control, with increasing complaint about the actions of the government.   LINK

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Samson:  Dozens of the Iraqi community in Germany are demonstrating and chanting the overthrow of the regime

4th October, 2019
Dozens of members of the Iraqi community in Germany on Friday staged demonstrations in the city of Berlin in support of protests in the capital Baghdad and a number of central and southern provinces.

"The people want to overthrow the regime," "Iran is his righteousness," and "Mansoura, Baghdad," they chanted.

The protesters chanted slogans against the parties in power, stressing the need for the European Union and the United Nations to support the protests in Iraq.

The demonstrators demanded Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi to resign.

Sweden witnessed similar demonstrations by the Iraqi community yesterday afternoon.  LINK

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Samson:  Other measures announced by @AdilAbdAlMahdi include:
- Expediting the allocation of plots of land, free of charge, to low income groups
- Instituting economic, social and public service reforms
- Submitting a proposal to Parliament to reform the electoral system

— Government of Iraq - (@IraqiGovt) October 4, 2019

Tommy17:  A minimum amount of income for every Iraqi family    That’s the last part of the   HCL. IMO

Samson: Abdul Mahdi: We will present a project to give a salary to every family that does not have enough income
4th October, 2019

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said he would offer a salary bill to every family that does not have enough income.

"Today, we are between the choice of the state and the non-state and we want to build the state," he said in a speech. He stressed that "Ilyas' advocates are not allowed to overcome the people, and we want to serve and work sincerely," pointing out that "we have a project we will submit to the Council of Ministers to give salary to every family does not have enough income."

"We will not promise empty promises or prosthetic solutions. We must restore normal life in the provinces and respect the rule of law," he said, adding that "security measures, including bans, are difficult." "We believe in the policy of providing housing alternatives before lifting abuses and we started distributing residential land," he said, stressing that "the escalation in the demonstration is leading to loss of life." 

 He pointed out that "the victims in the demonstrations of the security forces and demonstrators martyrs have rights in accordance with the laws in force," and called "Parliament to give the Council of Ministers the power to complete the ministerial lineup."  LINK

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Samson: Sistani calls on the Iraqi government to take clear and practical steps towards reform
4th October, 2019
Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani warned on Friday of serious repercussions of violence and counter-violence, referring to clashes in some areas between demonstrators and security forces that fired live bullets and tear gas. He condemned the attacks on peaceful demonstrators and security forces, and warned of serious repercussions in the event of violence against protesters.

The Iraqi police sources, in addition to medical sources, reported on Friday, the death toll of demonstrations in Iraq to 44 and hundreds of wounded, according to Reuters news agency reported. The sources added that the highest number of deaths occurred in the southern city of Nasiriyah, where 18 died, while 16 were killed in the capital Baghdad.

Sistani stressed in a statement Friday sermon on the need to fight corruption, saying, "The judiciary did not do its duty to fight corruption." He called for the Iraqi government to take clear and practical steps towards reform. He also called on the Iraqi government to provide employment opportunities for citizens.  LINK