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Iraq Prepares to Provide Vaccines for 20% of its Population

In this Saturday, June 20, 2020 photo, workers set up a field hospital to treat patients with COVID-19 in Baghdad, Iraq. New field hospitals have been erected to treat virus patients as hospitals reach capacity, but health workers fear the worst is still to come. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
In this Saturday, June 20, 2020 photo, workers set up a field hospital to treat patients with COVID-19 in Baghdad, Iraq. New field hospitals have been erected to treat virus patients as hospitals reach capacity, but health workers fear the worst is still to come. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
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Iraq Prepares to Provide Vaccines for 20% of its Population

In this Saturday, June 20, 2020 photo, workers set up a field hospital to treat patients with COVID-19 in Baghdad, Iraq. New field hospitals have been erected to treat virus patients as hospitals reach capacity, but health workers fear the worst is still to come. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
In this Saturday, June 20, 2020 photo, workers set up a field hospital to treat patients with COVID-19 in Baghdad, Iraq. New field hospitals have been erected to treat virus patients as hospitals reach capacity, but health workers fear the worst is still to come. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

The Iraqi Ministry of Health announced that it is making arrangements to purchase the Pfizer-BoiNtech vaccine as part of its efforts to curb the coronavirus’s spread.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry said it made contacts with the companies that said were working on producing vaccines, stressing that an agreement was recently reached with the Global Vaccine Alliance to secure vaccines that cover 20 percent of the Iraqi population.

Concerning the agreement with Pfizer, the statement revealed that several confidential meetings were held with the company since July, which were followed by other recent meetings in October and November.

The Ministry explained that “at the same time, we are still in contact with AstraZeneca and other Chinese and international companies."

"We are awaiting for the official approval of the vaccines by international agencies to initiate negotiations with them," it added.

The statement highlighted the immense efforts the Ministry has been exerting to contain the spread of the virus, despite the its limited capacities amid the harsh conditions facing the country.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iraqi President Barham Salih met with Minister of Health Hassan Al-Tamimi, after which he emphasized the need to continue to take measures that curb the spread of the pandemic and maintain communication with companies that were successful in finding a vaccine to provide it for Iraqis.

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Armed Clashes Erupt in Libya’s Tripoli After Reported Killing of Armed Group Leader 

Members of the police are seen in the Libyan capital Tripoli. (EPA)
Members of the police are seen in the Libyan capital Tripoli. (EPA)
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Armed Clashes Erupt in Libya’s Tripoli After Reported Killing of Armed Group Leader 

Members of the police are seen in the Libyan capital Tripoli. (EPA)
Members of the police are seen in the Libyan capital Tripoli. (EPA)

Armed clashes erupted on Monday evening and gunfire has echoed in the city center and other parts of the Libyan capital Tripoli following reports that an armed group leader was killed, three residents told Reuters by phone.

The leader, Abdulghani Kikli, known as Ghaniwa, is the commander of Support Force Apparatus SSA, one of Tripoli's powerful armed groups, based in the densely populated Abu Salim neighborhood.

SSA is under the Presidential Council that came to power in 2021 with the Government of National Unity (GNU) of Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah through a United Nations-backed process.

The GNU's interior ministry called on citizens in a short statement to stay at home "for their own safety."

Following the ministry's call, drivers started speeding and honking in many Tripoli streets.

The GNU media platform said early on Tuesday that the defense ministry had fully taken control of Abu Salim neighborhood.

"I heard heavy gunfire, and I saw red lights in the sky," a resident said on condition of anonymity.

The other two residents said the gunfire was echoing all over their neighborhoods of Abu Salim and Salaheddin.

The University of Tripoli Presidency announced on Facebook the suspension of studies, exams, and administrative work at all faculties, departments and offices until further notice.

The UN Mission in Libya urged all parties to "immediately cease fighting and restore calm," reminding them of their obligation to protect civilians.

"Attacks on civilians and civilian objects may amount to war crimes," it said.

Libya, a major oil producer in the Mediterranean, has had little stability since a 2011 uprising backed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The country split in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions.

Major fighting paused with a ceasefire in 2020 but efforts to end the political crisis have failed, with major factions occasionally joining forces in armed clashes and competing for control over Libya's substantial economic resources.

Tripoli and the northwest, where the GNU and most major state institutions are based, are home to rival armed factions that have repeatedly fought.