Saturday, February 26th 2011
Sistani urges government to implement concrete reforms
Najaf, The religious authority Ayatollah Ali Sistani issued a statement today urging the Iraqi parliament and government to take urgent and concrete steps to meet the demands of the protestors who took to the streets yesterday in cities across Iraq.
The statement says that the public protests should serve as a warning to the government of the consequences of continuing with its current approach to the management of the state.
Sistani’s statement calls on the Iraqi administration to improve public services such as electricity distribution, to provide promised food subsidies and jobs for the unemployed as well as actively seeking out and fighting all forms of financial and administrative corruption in state departments.
The statement goes on to urge the government “to eliminate the unacceptable privileges granted to the current and former members of parliament, provincial councilors and senior officials in the government,” and to curb the creation of unnecessary state posts that cost the country a lot of money.
In the statement Sistani praises the Iraqi citizens who participated peacefully in yesterday’s nation-wide demonstrations despite the security risks.
Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets yesterday across Iraq demanding improved public services, effective implementation of the ration card system, an end to administrative corruption and improved employment opportunities.
The rallies in several cities became less peaceful, notably in Mosul where protestors set fire to the Nineveh provincial government headquarters and in Basra where the governorate was stormed. Violent clashes between security forces and the public were reported in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Salahadin
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued a statement following yesterday’s rallies in which he has promised to launch investigations into any security breaches that occurred during the demonstrations and vowed to personally follow up the demands of the protestors.
“I will do my best to cooperate and coordinate with the legislative and judicial branches in order to resolve the citizens' issues,” the statement reads.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/221221/
