Fires affected 152 stores and houses in Tikrit

Extensive fires which raged in Tikrit over the past few days affected 152 stores and houses, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said.

At a press conference in Erbil Al-Abadi said the security forces arrested persons who had been involved in looting in the city, and stressed that the government condemns any attacks against private property anywhere.

He added: “We followed up the abuses that took place in the city of Tikrit, and we have arrested many of those who attempt to damage the reputation of the army and offend the popular crowd [Shia militias loyal to the government], when they robbed some houses, and we will bring them to justice.”

He pointed out that “the number of homes that have been burned in Tikrit at the hands of vandals amounted to 67, in addition to 85 shops”, pointing out that “the Iraqi government will continue to chase these gangs that are trying to abuse our security troops”.

During the press conference, the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani said Al-Abadi’s “visit will help to lay the basis for strengthening relations between the region [Kurdistan] and the federal government; we talked about the mutual coordination between the two parties and ending the outstanding problems.”

He continued: “We have reached understandings and agreements to work together in order to do everything possible for the interest of the country and the liberation of Iraq as a whole from the terrorists,” pointing out that “there is no connection between the budget and the operations that aim at the liberation of Mosul.”

Barzani said a joint committee would be formed to follow up on the present joint operations as well as future ones, saying: “We have agreed to solve all problems. We also agreed to form a joint committee to study our participation in the liberation of Mosul’s operation, and the decision will be made according to the results of this study.”