PM arrives in Basra

BASRA / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived on Friday in the city of Basra accompanied by a number of lawmakers, ministers and local officials. “The premier arrived on Friday afternoon (Jan. 23) in Basra within his activities to support his list’s electoral campaign in the upcoming provincial council elections,” the correspondent of IraqiNews.com news agency said. “Transport Minister Aamer Abdul Jabar, Basra Governor Mohamed al-Waeli and Basra security officials are among the personalities accompanying the premier,” the correspondent added. “Al-Maliki will hold a press conference at the al-Menaa stadium,” he noted. Al-Maliki is heading Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) list for the coming elections. Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) list is composed of Maliki’s Islamic Dawa Party, the Dawa Party – Iraq Organization, the Islamic Solidarity List, Feyli Kurds, the Islamic Union for Iraqi Turkmen and the Mustaqiloon (Independents) bloc. The provincial council elections are scheduled to be held on January 31 in Iraq’s 18 provinces save Kirkuk and the three autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region provinces of Arbil, Sulaimaniya and Duhuk. SH (P) 1