Arrest Warrant against Pro-Iran Cleric Stokes Tensions in Iraq

A student walks past the remains of a tent, which was burnt last night after clashes between supporters of Iraqi Shiite armed groups and Iraqi security forces during a protest against the election results in Baghdad, Iraq, November 6, 2021. (Reuters)
A student walks past the remains of a tent, which was burnt last night after clashes between supporters of Iraqi Shiite armed groups and Iraqi security forces during a protest against the election results in Baghdad, Iraq, November 6, 2021. (Reuters)
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Arrest Warrant against Pro-Iran Cleric Stokes Tensions in Iraq

A student walks past the remains of a tent, which was burnt last night after clashes between supporters of Iraqi Shiite armed groups and Iraqi security forces during a protest against the election results in Baghdad, Iraq, November 6, 2021. (Reuters)
A student walks past the remains of a tent, which was burnt last night after clashes between supporters of Iraqi Shiite armed groups and Iraqi security forces during a protest against the election results in Baghdad, Iraq, November 6, 2021. (Reuters)

A court in the Iraqi city of Najaf has issued an arrest warrant on terrorism charges against a cleric who is close to Iran.

The suspect is Hamid al-Husseini, who is head of the Iraqi Radio and Television Union, which is funded by Iran.

Another arrest warrant on the same charges was issued against Ammar Ibrahim Talal al-Bouamer.

Observers have ruled out the possibility that the warrants may be linked to the assassination attempt against Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi earlier this month.

Tensions have been high in Iraq in wake of the failed attempt on the PM's life.

Pro-Iran factions, which were the major losers in the October parliamentary elections, are widely believed to be behind the attack. They have held protests in Baghdad to express their rejection of the vote, which they have dismissed as a "sham".

The elections commission has completed the recount of votes in ballot stations whose results have been appealed.

Ten days remain to complete the process, but as it stands, the recount will not alter the outcome of the elections, which saw Sadrist movement leader cleric Moqtada al-Sadr emerge as victor.

The official results of the elections will be revealed once the Federal Supreme Court approves them.

In the meantime, the losing factions will be bracing themselves for a new round of confrontation with the government, Kadhimi and the Independent High Electoral Commission, which they accuse of being beholden to internal and foreign powers.



Palestinian Authority Says Internet Down in Gaza After Attack on Fibre Optic Cable

Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
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Palestinian Authority Says Internet Down in Gaza After Attack on Fibre Optic Cable

Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed
Palestinians charge their mobile phones from a point powered by solar panels provided by Adel Shaheen, an owner of an electric appliances shop, as electricity remains cut during the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed

The Palestinian Authority said internet and fixed-line communication services were down in Gaza on Thursday following an attack on the territory's last fibre optic cable it blamed on Israel.

"All internet and fixed-line communication services in the Gaza Strip have been cut following the targeting of the last remaining main fibre optic line in Gaza," the PA's telecommunications ministry said in a statement, accusing Israel of attempting to cut Gaza off from the world, AFP reported.

"The southern and central Gaza Strip have now joined Gaza City and the northern part of the Strip in experiencing complete isolation for the second consecutive day," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that its maintenance and repair teams had been unable to safely access the sites where damage occurred to the fibre optic cable.

"The Israeli occupation continues to prevent technical teams from repairing the cables that were cut yesterday", it said, adding that Israeli authorities had prevented repairs to other telecommunication lines in Gaza "for weeks and months".

The Palestinian Red Crescent said the communication lines were "directly targeted by occupation forces".

It said the internet outage was hindering its emergency services by impeding communication with first responder teams in the field.

"The emergency operations room is also struggling to coordinate with other organisations to respond to humanitarian cases."

Maysa Monayer, spokeswoman for the Palestinian communication ministry, told AFP that "mobile calls are still available with very limited capacity" in Gaza for the time being.

Now in its 21st month, the war in Gaza has caused massive damage to infrastructure across the Palestinian territory, including water mains, power lines and roads.