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A10 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 8 OcTOber 2019
Iraqi police replacing army in volatile Baghdad neighborhood

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA by protesters, was lifted
Associated Press Saturday and the internet
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's was restored after sunset
prime minister on Monday Monday.
ordered the police to re- "Police forces have taken
place the army in a heavily over security and deployed
populated Shiite neighbor- today in Sadr City to pre-
hood of Baghdad where serve the lives of citizens
dozens of people were and protect protesters," po-
killed or wounded in week- lice commander Maj. Gen.
end clashes stemming from Jaafar Battat said.
anti-government protests, Hundreds gathered on side
the military said. streets near Sadr City, a
Prime Minister Adel Abdul- Baghdad suburb about 4
Mahdi gave the order after kilometers (2.5 miles) from
a week of violence in Iraq the central Tahrir Square,
left more than 100 dead which has been the desti-
and thousands wounded. nation of demonstrators, al-
Since Oct. 1, spontane- though authorities prevent-
ous rallies have erupted in ed them from reaching it.
Baghdad and a number of A street vendor sells coffee to the Iraqi Federal police as they deployed in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraqi security officials said
southern cities by Iraqis de- Iraq, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. 14 protesters were killed
manding jobs, better basic Associated Press and 62 wounded on Sun-
services such as electricity day, many of them in Sadr
and water, and an end to militants. The chaos also tary forces allied with Iran. excessive force was used in City.
endemic corruption. Secu- comes at a critical time for Monday's order for with- Sadr City, adding that offi- Baghdad streets were rela-
rity forces have responded the government, which has drawing the army from cers and soldiers who "car- tively quiet Monday with
with live ammunition and been caught in the middle Sadr City appears aimed ried out these wrong acts" no protesters seen outside.
tear gas to quell the pro- of increasing tensions be- at calming tensions in the will be held accountable. Tahrir Square looked more
tests. tween Iran and the U.S. in sprawling neighborhood, A day after the protests be- like an army barracks, with
The unrest is the most seri- the region. Iraq is allied with where populist Shiite cleric gan, authorities imposed a heavy military and police
ous challenge facing Iraq, both countries and hosts Muqtada al-Sadr enjoys a curfew and blocked the presence making it difficult
two years after the vic- thousands of U.S. troops, as wide support. internet to try to quell the for protesters to reach the
tory against Islamic State well as powerful paramili- The army statement said unrest. The curfew, ignored area.q

Israeli officials wrap up Netanyahu's pre-indictment hearing

By ARON HELLER Gantz and his centrist Blue
Associated Press and White Party have so far
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's rejected a partnership with
state prosecutors and Ben- Netanyahu, citing his legal
jamin Netanyahu's lawyers woes. A failure to reach a
concluded the pre-indict- deal could trigger a third
ment hearing over a slew election in less than a year.
of corruption allegations Netanyahu is desperate to
against the prime minister stay on as prime minister, a
on Monday. post he can use as a pulpit
Netanyahu's lawyers ar- as he tries to fend off any
rived at the Justice Ministry charges. Israeli law requires
in Jerusalem for the fourth Cabinet ministers to step
and final day of the pro- down if charged with a
ceedings where they were crime. But the law is vague
meeting with Attorney for sitting prime ministers,
General Avichai Mandel- meaning he could theo-
blit and his team to appeal retically remain in the post
that the cases against Ne- if he is indicted, though he
tanyahu be dropped. would likely face calls to
Mandelblit has recom- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during his party's faction meeting in Jerusalem, step aside.
mended that Netanya- Thursday., Oct. 3, 2019, ahead of swearing-in of the new Israel's parliament. The allegations against Ne-
hu be indicted for fraud, Associated Press tanyahu include suspicions
breach of trust and brib- that he accepted hun-
ery in three separate cas- reporters that the prime The legal woes come as secured the required par- dreds of thousands of dol-
es that have dogged the minister's lawyers "hope Netanyahu is fighting for his liamentary majority to form lars of champagne and ci-
long-serving premier. The and expect that at the end political survival, with the a new government. Both gars from billionaire friends,
hearing is the final step be- of the four long days of the country's unprecedented men have expressed sup- offered to trade favors with
fore the attorney general hearing, all the cases will second election of the port for a unity government a newspaper publisher and
decides whether to issue a be closed." year failing to provide him as a way out of the dead- used his influence to help a
formal indictment. The attorney general is ex- with a clear victory. In last lock, but they remain far wealthy telecom magnate
At the end of Monday's pected to render his final month's election, neither apart on who should lead in exchange for favorable
hearing, Netanyahu's at- decision by the end of the Netanyahu nor his chief it and what smaller parties coverage on a popular
torney, Amit Hadad, told year. challenger, Benny Gantz, would join them. news site.q