Iraqi PM Promises Major Cabinet Reshuffle

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi promised, on Saturday, a major cabinet reshuffle in response to the protesters' demands, Sky News Arabia reported.

Abdul-Mahdi considers the demonstrations as an important tool to press for reforms, Sky News Arabia added.

The prime minister announced that the government and judicial authorities will continue to investigate the deaths and injuries of the protesters and security forces.

Yesterday, Spokesman of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Major General Abdul Karim Khalaf, revealed that some of the protesters were killed during their protests by unknown gunmen in some provinces.

In a statement to Russian television network RT, Khalaf said that some protesters were killed by soldiers while others were killed by unknown gunmen in a number of Iraqi provinces.

He stressed that a committee will be formed to follow up the file of the victims and provide evidence and facts that reveal those who are involved in the killing of a number of protesters.

Noteworthy, Attempts by senior officials to stop mass protests in Iraq have not succeeded, as demonstrations and road closures continued.

In an effort to calm the crisis, Abdul-Mahdi vowed to implement reforms, calling for a return to normalcy.

“The unrest is costing the country’s economy billions of dollars,” he stressed.

In an official statement published Sunday evening, Abdul Mahdi said that the protests, which “rocked the political system” have served their purpose and must stop affecting business and economic activities in Iraq.

“The threat to oil interests and closure of some Iraq’s ports is causing great losses exceeding billions,” he said, warning that this unrest would contribute to an increase in goods’ prices.