Abadi makes 90% cuts in the number of guards for officials

The number of guards charged with protecting officials will be cut by 90 per cent, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi announced yesterday.

In a press release Al-Abadi said this was part of reforms which would mean the withdrawal of all officials’ protection regiments without exception or discrimination.

He noted that the protection regiments will be restructured or abolished so that they carry out their national duties to protect the country and its citizens.

“There will be no retreat from this [reduction] at all, despite the disruptive campaigns that try to obstruct the reforms,” Al-Abadi said, adding that opposition to the decision will only increase his insistence and determination to proceed on this path till its end.