Iraqi MP Arrested Over Bribery Chargers

Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily
Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily
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Iraqi MP Arrested Over Bribery Chargers

Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily
Women demonstrators hold Iraqi flags as they take part in a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, Iraq October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily

Delivering a severe blow to Iraq’s legislative body, the country’s Commission of Integrity (COI) announced arresting MP Mahmoud Mulla Talal on bribery charges.

This comes one day after the rescheduling of the parliamentary session in which the Minister of Industry Saleh al-Jubouri was supposed to be grilled by the arrested deputy.

Talal is suspected to have received bribery from the minister or a third party, as reported by the Commission.

It is worth noting that the Iraqi parliament has recently lifted immunity off lawmakers accused of bribery or other crimes.

No clarification was given by either parliament or the bloc to which the accused deputy belongs, the Wisdom Bloc.

“MP Mahmoud Mulla Talal will be released in the case truth is revealed,” Wisdom Bloc spokesperson MP Assaad Al-Murshidi said, pointing fingers at Jubouri for allegedly fabricating the charges against the arrested MP.

The COI also announced the issuance of arrest warrants for former Minister of Health Adela Humood Alaboudi, two current deputies, and former governors as part of its major campaign against corruption.

In the same context, the COI in Karkh issued an arrest warrant for MP Ahmed al-Jubouri.



Lebanon Says Two Dead in Israel Strike

Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
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Lebanon Says Two Dead in Israel Strike

Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Smoke rises from Odeisseh in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israel, 17 October 2024. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

An Israeli strike killed a Lebanese father and son Tuesday in a southern village, the Lebanese health ministry and state media said, the latest deaths despite a November ceasefire.

A second son was also wounded in the strike in Shebaa, the state-run National News Agency reported. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

"An Israeli enemy drone carried out a strike in the village of Shebaa, killing two people and wounding one," a health ministry statement said, AFP reported.

Israel had warned on Friday that it would keep up its strikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon despite the condemnation expressed by the Lebanese government after a massive strike on south Beirut the previous night on the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Hezbollah said the strikes levelled nine residential blocks. The Israeli military said they targeted underground drone factories.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes as a "a flagrant violation" of the November 27 ceasefire agreement, which was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah that culminated in two months of full-blown war.