Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 6 december 2019
Fears rise as at least 13 stabbed in Baghdad square

SAMYA KULLAB
MURTADA FARAJ Immediately after, over
Associated Press a dozen people were
BAGHDAD (AP) — At least stabbed, the officials said.
13 people were stabbed Demonstrators camped
Thursday in Baghdad’s Tah- out in the square said the
rir Square, the epicenter of number was higher.
Iraq’s protest movement, The injured were treated
security and medical of- inside makeshift medical
ficials said, stoking fears centers in the square and
of infiltration by unknown four with serious wounds
groups among anti-gov- were taken to al-Kindi hos-
ernment demonstrators. pital, in east Baghdad,
Parliament was sched- medical officials said.
uled to meet Thursday to One police official said six
amend laws governing individuals were taken into
compensation to include custody following the at-
victims of security opera- tacks.
tions and vote on changes It was not clear who, if any-
to the structure of Iraq’s one from the withdrawing
electoral commission, the group of protesters was re-
body that oversees polls sponsible for the attacks;
across the country, ac- all wore plain clothes mak-
cording to two lawmakers Hundreds of people march inside Tahrir Square carrying national flags and chanting religious ing their affiliations visibly
in attendance. slogans in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. unclear. The perpetrators
Over a dozen protesters Associated Press had blended into the
were attacked with knives crowds of protesters who
by late afternoon, just as tive slogans in deference At least 400 people have crowds with live fire, tear have effectively taken up
demonstrators supportive to Grand Ayatollah Ali al- died since the leader- gas and sonic bombs, residence in the sprawling
of political parties and Iran- Sistani, Iraq’s most power- less uprising shook Iraq on leading to fatalities. plaza, two protesters and a
backed militias withdrew ful Shiite cleric, and stood Oct. 1, with thousands of “The parties and militias security official said.
from Tahrir, three anti-gov- conspicuous against the Iraqis taking to the streets agreed to bring people But the incident has fu-
ernment protesters and a usual crowds of Tahrir pro- in Baghdad and the pre- to Tahrir under the pretext eled paranoia among
witness said. There were no testers. dominantly Shiite southern of maintaining peaceful protesters, who are con-
fatalities. Al-Sistani has largely sided Iraq decrying corruption, demonstrations,” said Mus- vinced that members of
The protesters aligned with protesters, calling for poor services, lack of jobs tafa, a demonstrator who Iran-backed militia groups
with parties had marched serious electoral reforms and calling for an end to requested anonymity fear- disguised as demonstra-
to Tahrir earlier that day, and recently withdrew sup- the political system that ing reprisal. tors are to blame for the
mostly young men clad port for the government of was imposed after the Around 2:30 p.m., the new violence: “They hate the
in black and waiving Iraqi Adil Abdul-Mahdi, prompt- 2003 U.S. invasion. group of protesters with- demonstrators and most
flags. They chanted posi- ing his resignation. Security forces dispersed drew and left the square. withdrew. q

Close associates of Israeli PM to be indicted in graft case

By TIA GOLDENBERG Prime Minister Benjamin State prosecutor Shai Nit- sented the German firm in- trading regulatory or legis-
Associated Press Netanyahu, in a sweep- zan’s office said in a state- volved and was suspected lative favors in exchange
JERUSALEM (AP) — Isra- ing graft case related to a ment the seven would be of using his influence over for lavish gifts and favor-
el’s state prosecutor said possible conflict of interest charged with various of- the prime minister in return able news coverage.Ne-
Thursday he intends to in- involving a $2 billion pur- fenses, among them brib- for a hefty cut of the deal. tanyahu has professed
dict seven men, including chase of German subma- ery, money laundering and Also set to be indicted is innocence in all three,
close associates of Israeli rines. fraud, pending a hearing. David Sharan, who once saying the charges are
Netanyahu was ques- headed Netanyahu’s of- trumped up by a biased
tioned, but not named as fice. The former head of justice system egged on
a suspect, in the subma- the navy has also been im- by a liberal media.Ne-
rine probe, known as “file plicated. tanyahu, Israel’s longest-
3000.” But it roped in some After seeming to escape serving leader, is fighting
of his closest aides and the submarine scandal, it for his political life follow-
sparked questions about was revealed that Netan- ing two inconclusive elec-
his earnings on a related yahu reportedly earned $4 tions and the likelihood of
German submarine sale to million on a related Ger- an unprecedented third
Egypt. man submarine sale to in one year.
Netanyahu, who was in Egypt by owning shares in With the charges against
Lisbon on a state visit, had one of the German manu- him issued amid the politi-
no comment on the indict- facturer’s suppliers. He has cal impasse, Netanyahu
ments. denied wrongdoing. has driven up his rhetoric
Among those to be Netanyahu was recently against his perceived en-
charged were Netan- charged with bribery, fraud emies, berating law en-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly yahu’s personal attorney, and breach of trust in three forcement institutions and
cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem, Israel, Sunday, Dec.
1, 2019. David Shimron, who is also separate corruption cases calling for “the investiga-
Associated Press his cousin. Shimron repre- in which he is accused of tors to be investigated.”q