Najaf’s police chief sacked as protests continue

Iraq’s interior minister has dismissed Najaf’s police chief over the protests that have been taking place in the province, Anadolu Agency reported, citing a source in the ministry.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said that Interior Minister Qasim Al-Araji has dismissed Majid Hatem and appointed Alaa Gharib to replace him.

He added that the police chief was sacked because police forces did not demonstrate efficiency in dealing with the protests that have swept the province.

Hundreds of protesters stormed into the province’s airport on Friday over “political parties’ control over the airport’s revenue”, to demand the dismissal of the airport’s chief – who belongs to the Dawa Party – and to demand the airport’s revenues are used to fund services in the province.

Read: Dozens wounded as police fire on protesters in Iraq

On Saturday, the Najaf International Airport’s management accused security forces of failing to secure the airport. The airport’s management added in a statement that it would file a lawsuit against the provinces’ security authorities.

Protesters in Najaf and in other southern provinces have expressed anger over poor public services and rising unemployment. Protesters are demanding the provision of basic services such as water and electricity, in addition to job opportunities.

Security forces fired on protesters which resulted in the death of two protesters and the injury of dozens of protesters and police personnel.

The government responded by allocating a number of government jobs and funds for the Basra Province, and it promised to carry out a number of services-oriented projects in the short run.

Last week the government promised to stop vandals who were capitalising on the protests to wreck public property.

Read: Iraq police fire in air as protesters try to storm Basra govt building