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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 12 July 2017

Clashes shake west Mosul after victory over IS declared

By BRAM JANSSEN A statement late Monday Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend commander in Iraq, said cian Karim al-Nouri echoed
Associated Press from IS said its fighters were said in a recorded video the coalition will continue those remarks, urging the
MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — Air- still attacking Iraqi troops in after al-Abadi’s decla- to support its Iraqi partners, government to review its
strikes, shelling and other the al-Maydan area of Mo- ration that the victory in and he urged Iraqis to unite policies in Sunni areas of
heavy clashes shook a Iraq to “avoid previous mis-
small sliver of western Mo- takes that led to the emer-
sul on Tuesday in renewed gence” of IS.
fighting, a day after the The government needs to
government declared vic- work on “removing fears
tory over Islamic State mili- of marginalization and ter-
tants in Iraq’s second-larg- rorism affiliation in Sunni
est city. areas,” said al-Nouri, a se-
Amnesty International, nior member of the Badr
meanwhile, proclaimed Organization. He said he
the battle for Mosul to be a believes Iraqi forces should
“civilian catastrophe,” with stay in Mosul until it is fully
more than 5,800 noncom- secure before handing
batants killed in the west- control to local forces.
ern part of the city. The top Lawmaker Intisar al-Jabouri
U.S. commander in Iraq from Nineveh province,
rejected the group’s alle- where Mosul is the capital,
gations, however, that the said uprooting IS’ “extrem-
U.S.-led coalition violated ism ideology” was the key
international law. to peace in Mosul, which
In a sign that IS militants reeled under the group’s
were still holding out in the harsh rule for three years.
shattered Old City, plumes She urged Baghdad to in-
of smoke rose as mortar Airstrikes target Islamic State positions on the edge of the Old City a day after Iraq’s prime minister vest in “good relations”
shells landed near Iraqi declared “total victory” in Mosul, Iraq, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. between the residents and
troop positions and heavy (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) the security forces and
gunfire rang out. Airstrikes take all “necessary mea-
pounded the edge of the sul’s Old City, purportedly Mosul did not eliminate IS and prevent a return of the sures to prevent terrorism
neighborhood west of the killing and wounding many from Iraq and “there’s still conditions that allowed groups from returning to
Tigris River throughout the and seizing weapons and a tough fight ahead.” the rise of the extremists. Mosul.” q
day. ammunition. Townsend, the top U.S. In Baghdad, Shiite politi-
On Monday, Prime Minister
Haider al-Abadi declared Saudis to allow girls to play sports in public schools
“total victory” in Mosul,
flanked by his senior mili- By AYA BATRAWY ally” and “in accordance is significant in Saudi Arabia team during the 2012 Lon-
tary leadership at a small Associated Press with (Islamic) Shariah regu- because women taking don games.
base in the city’s west. DUBAI, United Arab Emir- lations.” part in exercise is still seen Despite incremental open-
The militants overran the ates (AP) — Saudi Arabia At least one Saudi activist as a taboo. ings for Saudi women, tight
northern city in summer said Tuesday that it will took to Twitter questioning Some of the kingdom’s ul- restrictions remain in place.
2014, when the extremists grant girls in public schools whether this implied that traconservatives shun the Women are banned from
seized territory across Iraq access to physical educa- girls will be required to seek concept of women’s ex- driving and must seek
and Syria. The campaign tion, a decision that comes the permission of their male ercise as “immodest” and the permission of a male
by Iraqi forces and the co- after years of calls by wom- guardians, such as a fa- say it blurs gender lines. guardian to travel abroad
alition to retake the city en across the kingdom de- ther, before they can play It was only four years ago or obtain a passport. Re-
began in October 2016. manding greater rights and sports. It was also unclear if that the kingdom formally strictive male guardianship
The operation killed thou- access to sports. the classes would be extra- approved sports for girls in rules give men, usually the
sands of people, left whole The Education Ministry said curricular or mandatory. private schools. father or husband, huge
neighborhoods in ruins and it will introduce the physical The decision to allow girls to Women first participated sway over a woman’s life in
displaced nearly 900,000 education classes “gradu- play sports in public schools in Saudi Arabia’s Olympic Saudi Arabia.q
from their homes.