Spanish Interior Minister arrives in Baghdad
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska arrived in Baghdad today, Wednesday.
An Iraqi News Agency (INA) correspondent reported that "Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska arrived in Baghdad today, Wednesday."
He added that "Marlaska will meet with a number of Iraqi officials, including Interior Minister Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, to discuss joint cooperation."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraq arrests 40 over alleged baathist plots, sectarian incitement
Also in Iraq Iraq cannot control militias attacking Kurdistan Region, says MP Iraq records 16 new cases of Crimean-Congo fever Iraqi parliament to convene on Kurdistan Region drone attacks PM Barzani says Baghdad added new condition to finance agreement A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Forty people suspected of spreading Ba'athist ideologies of former dictator Saddam Hussein's regime and planning sabotage attacks have been arrested, Iraqi security forces announced on Sunday. 'Security detachments carried out qualitative operations that resulted in the arrest of 40 suspects involved in managing and financing sectarian content and seeking to carry out sabotage operations,' the Iraqi National Security Agency (INSS) said in a statement. The law criminalizing the promotion of the Baath Party in Iraq was activated on July 30, 2016. It criminalized membership in, and promotion of, the dissolved Ba'ath party in Iraq, as well as any similar groups or ideologies 'These misguided elements resorted to false rhetoric that promoted the banned Ba'athist regime as a cover for marketing their dead dreams and inciting against the state,' the security agency added. A clandestine cyber group called 'Brigade 66' which is managed from outside the country and spreads Ba'athist ideologies was also monitored. 'Some of them [the suspects] confessed to receiving guidance and support from fugitive elements outside the country,' the INSS said. The Arab Socialist Baath Party ruled Iraq from 1968 until it was toppled in 2003 by a United States-led invasion that removed its leader, Hussein. The party has since been banned under Article 7 of the Iraqi constitution, which outlaws adopting, glorifying, or promoting the symbols and propaganda of the former regime. Hussein's oppressive regime was responsible for numerous crimes against humanity, including the Anfal genocide against the Kurds. The campaign reached its deadliest point in 1988 with the Halabja chemical attack, which killed around 5,000 people and injured 10,000 more. The dictator was executed in 2006 after being sentenced to death in a separate case for the killing of 148 Shiites. His trial on charges related to the Anfal genocide was still ongoing at the time of his execution.
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraq cannot control militias attacking Kurdistan Region, says MP
Also in Iraq Iraq records 16 new cases of Crimean-Congo fever Iraqi parliament to convene on Kurdistan Region drone attacks Iraq arrests 40 over alleged baathist plots, sectarian incitement PM Barzani says Baghdad added new condition to finance agreement A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament on Monday said the Iraqi government lacks control over armed groups behind recent drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region, accusing 'external agendas' of fueling tensions between Erbil and Baghdad. Dozens of drone strikes have targeted the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of July, mainly hitting oil fields and causing significant financial losses. Kurdish officials have blamed the attacks on 'criminal militias' affiliated with the Iraqi government. 'We see that very often Iraq and the Kurdistan Region become victims of those militias that are outside authority. I can say that the Iraqi government cannot control those armed groups,' Srwa Mohammed, a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) lawmaker in the Iraqi parliament, told Rudaw. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) for the drone attacks, a charge Baghdad has denied. 'Despite having general authority, and the prime minister being the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, there are still militias that operate outside the law and do not follow official authority,' Mohammed added. The Iraqi parliament is convening on Monday in an extraordinary session to discuss the drone strikes, which have targeted key oil infrastructure. Although a parliamentary committee was formed to investigate the attacks, Mohammed said 'no report has reached parliament so far' and that the legislature's session is only for discussion with no decisions expected. She described the drone strikes as a form of 'pressure on the Kurdistan Region,' adding that 'whenever problems and disputes arise between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad, undoubtedly pressure is imposed on the Kurdistan Region.' Mohammed attributed the tensions to 'political and external agendas' that she said are preventing a resolution between the two sides. In March, the US rescinded waivers allowing Iraq to import energy from Iran. The Kurdistan Region subsequently signed multibillion-dollar energy deals with American companies in May to develop its oil and gas fields - contracts that Baghdad rejected as unconstitutional and challenged in court. However, Iraq's Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of the KRG, upholding the contracts. On Tuesday, Iraq's state-run North Oil Company signed an initial agreement with US-based HKN Energy for the development of the Hamrin oil field in Basra province, just hours after a drone strike targeted one of HKN's oil fields in the Kurdistan Region. On Monday, Iraq's Council of Ministers approved a new deal to resume salary payments and restart Kurdish oil exports. Under the agreement, the KRG must export all of its oil through Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), keeping 50,000 barrels per day for local consumption and delivering 230,000 barrels daily to Baghdad. In exchange, Baghdad is expected to make budget transfers and supply refined fuel if needed. The KRG is also required to submit 120 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately $92 million) in non-oil revenues each month. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said Wednesday that the drone attacks by 'criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll' have caused the loss of nearly 200,000 barrels in production.
Rudaw Net
2 hours ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi parliament to convene on Kurdistan Region drone attacks
Also in Iraq Iraq cannot control militias attacking Kurdistan Region, says MP Iraq records 16 new cases of Crimean-Congo fever Iraq arrests 40 over alleged baathist plots, sectarian incitement PM Barzani says Baghdad added new condition to finance agreement A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi parliament is set to meet in an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss the recent drone attacks targeting critical oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region. Dozens of drone strikes have targeted the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of July, primarily striking oil fields. The attacks have incurred heavy financial losses on the Region and Kurdish officials have held Iraqi government-affiliated 'criminal militias' responsible. The official agenda published by the Iraqi parliament's media office said that a 'general discussion regarding terrorist attacks on infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region' will be part of the special session. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied. The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, Council of Ministers, and Ministry of Natural Resources have all strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as attempts to cripple the Region's vital oil infrastructure. They called on the federal government to hold the perpetrators to account. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said on Saturday that the explosive-laden drones that targeted oil fields were launched from Kirkuk province. No group has claimed responsibility. There have been no new attacks since Erbil and Baghdad reached a new agreement on finances and oil exports on Thursday. The session will also discuss the 'Kut fire incident,' according to the agenda. A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Wasit's provincial capital of Kut late Wednesday killed at least 77 people and sparked outrage from the Iraqi public over lax safety standards. Most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation, with no emergency exits in place for victims to use.
