Iraq’s demonstrations main issue in today’s Iraqi newspapers

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The demonstrations that took place in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces, protesting against a decline of services and unemployment, have been the main issue in Monday’s Baghdad newspapers. “Poor services are the main problems for Iraqi citizens. The Service Ministries announced huge figures for the service industry, yet Iraqi citizens have not seen any results, which in turn is causing despair,” said al-Adala (Justice) newspaper, issued by the Supreme Islamic Council’s leader, Adel Abdul-Mahdi.  “It is not unsual for such demonistrations to take place against bad services, though the demonstrations that took place in Iraq cannot be compared with those that took place in Tunisia and Egypt as their targets are different. Tunisia and Egypt have demanded radical political reforms, such as rewriting their constitutions, a transition towards democracy, the holding of new elections, etc., whilst Iraq has already surprassed all those demands,” it said. Peaceful demonstrations took place in west Iraq‘s Ramadi city, demanding the government to achieve services and put an end to unemployment and adminsitrative corruption, whilst others demanded the release of political prisoners in another demonstration in Baghdad. Thousands took to the streets in southern Iraq‘s Diwaniya city, demanding services and jobs. In another article, Al-Ittihad (Union), an organ of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by Iraq‘s President, Jalal Talabani, said, “Accusations among different political parties are back to express Iraqis’ dissatisfaction in a possibility of finding solutions for their daily sufferings, which has become a very difficult issue.”  “Stop playing with words, because the people have understood what is taking place, calling for solutions before it’s too late. What has taken place in Baghdad and other provinces are messages from the people, who are asking about the fate of billions of dinars that were supposed to be allocated to services, but in vain,” the newspaper said. “Different government parties have began to feel the seriousness of the people’s anger, that cannot be descibed because of intensive violations, especially in the security field,” the newspaper added. SKH (TI)/SR 1943