A curfew imposed in 2004 (click here) in Baghdad will end this weekend, under orders from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
The premier also unblocked many streets long cut off for security reasons, and declared two Baghdad neighborhoods as demilitarized zones.
"The prime minister ordered that the curfew in the city of Baghdad be completely lifted starting from this Saturday," said Brigadier General Saad Maan, spokesman for the Baghdad Operations Command.
Al-Abadi wants there "to be normal life as much as possible, despite the existence of a state of war," said the prime minister's spokesman Rafid Jaboori, in reference to the battle against the militant "Islamic State" ("IS") group.
An offensive from the jihadists overran large areas north and west of Baghdad last year, as well as parts of neighboring Syria. Iraqi forces are battling to regain ground, assisted by Shiite fighters, Sunni tribesmen and a US-led coalition conducting air strikes. Forces in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region are also making gains against the IS.
Al-Abadi's statement did not elaborate on what the plan for the two demilitarized neighborhoods - the mainly Sunni Adhamiyah and the Shiite Kadhimiyah - would be....
I knew there was a reason for a new Prime Minister. "Evenings in Baghdad" The Kurds aren't waiting to be noticed.
February 6, 2015
...“The Finance Committee (click here) has sent a report to the parliament presidency. We are waiting for the legal committee for their report. After that report the question of loans will be placed in the parliament’s agenda and will soon enter voting phase,” Sabir explained.
“This loan will be an international loan and it is not meant to replace any other income,” he said. “This loan is to strengthen economic infrastructure,” he said, explaining that the budget received from the central government for the next three years was insufficient for investments in infrastructure.
“The budget does not allow the Kurdistan Region to build railroads, metro lines, dams and airports,” he added.
According to Sabir, if approved, the loans are to be borrowed from the German Deutsche bank and a US banking institution.
Although Baghdad has always objected to any moves by Erbil that would grant the KRG greater economic independence – citing fears that would encourage a bid for independence from Iraq – Sabir said that the central government was not objecting to possible loans.
“The Iraqi government has told the Kurdistan government that the KRG can take up loans, on condition that the Kurdish government will have to repay the loans on its own,” Sabir said.
Baghdad is experiencing a severe financial squeeze from a plunge in oil prices, the war with Islamic insurgents who control a third of the country – including some oil installations – and billions in missing funds due to years of corruption....
