Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki (L) walks with the Sunni Speaker of Parliament Salim Al-Jabouri during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, on Saturday, July 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq: Maliki accused of threatening Shi’a alliance break-up

by Hamza Mustafa | Aug 3, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraq’s most senior Shi’ite cleric called on the country’s politicians to form a national unity government on Friday, as fears grew of cracks in the Shi’ite-led National Alliance, the largest parliamentary bloc in the country, over the weekend....

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Members of the Iraqi security forces take up positions along a road during a patrol in the town of Jurf Al-Sakhar, south of Baghdad, on July 16, 2014. (Reuters/Stringer)

ISIS, Baghdad fight over strategic town southwest of capital

by Hamza Mustafa | Jul 30, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi tribal leaders have called on authorities to pay more attention to winning the “hearts and minds” of citizens in order to combat the advance of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters towards the capital Baghdad. The calls came...

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Fuad Masoum, Iraq’s newly elected president, speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, on July 24, 2014. (Reuters/Ahmed Saad)

Iraq picks president, but no movement on prime minister

by Hamza Mustafa | Jul 25, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—It was one step forward and two steps back for Iraq on Thursday as parliament successfully elected a new president, but appeared no closer to choosing a prime minister or forming a new government. Lawmakers elected veteran Kurdish politician...

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File photo of Ahmed Chalabi. (Reuters)

Iraqi Shi’a parties prepare to nominate Chalabi for PM

by Hamza Mustafa | Jul 15, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi lawmakers elected a new speaker of parliament on Tuesday, as Shi’a political parties prepared to nominate candidates to replace Nuri Al-Maliki as prime minister. Iraqi state TV showed footage of MPs congratulating Sunni MP Salim...

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Bai Hassan oil refinery is shown in this June 19, 2014, photograph.
(EPA/STR)

Iraqi Kurds say seizure of Kirkuk oil fields to protect against ISIS

by Hamza Mustafa | Jul 12, 2014 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has denied accusations that Peshmerga forces seizing two major oil fields in Kirkuk province is part of an attempt to put pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki after Iraqi Kurdish politicians...