Kalkamsh Press / Baghdad
The head of the coalition of the rule of law Nuri al-Maliki on the line of decisions of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, which relates to the “popular mobilization,” warning of attempts to integrate with the military.
Al-Maliki’s statements come in conjunction with the pursuit of Abdul-Mahdi’s decision taken two months ago, to restructure the “crowd” and annexation to the military, which was rejected by some of its factions, while others requested a time limit for implementation.
Al-Maliki said in statements published by his media office, “We warn of moves to dissolve the Popular Mobilization or merge with the Iraqi army or the police,” calling for “the need to organize the Popular Mobilization and check its conditions, and control to prevent it from actions embarrassing the state and citizens.”
He stressed the importance of keeping the Hashd independent and directly linked to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, pointing out that some parties call for the dissolution of the Hashd, believing that its solution will rid the country of external pressures that do not want the Hashd to be a protector of Iraq’s sovereignty and unity, and to face the challenges facing it.
For his part, an official close to the office of Abdul-Mahdi, told the “new Arab”, “Maliki’s statement is an explicit incitement against the decision of the Prime Minister, which provided for the restructuring of the crowd and annexed to the military,” noting that “the statement was not expected, and that The prime minister did not comment on him. ”
He pointed out that “the Prime Minister will have a response later to this statement,” stressing that “Abdul Mahdi’s decision will be implemented in accordance with the agreement between his leaders and the Prime Minister, and that Maliki’s statements do not affect that.”
Maliki’s position is the first explicit position of the Prime Minister’s decision, observers have warned of its seriousness and Maliki’s attempt to aggravate the situation between the militia “crowd” and the government.
The political expert, Ghanim Abdullah al-Lahibi, said that “Maliki seeks to ride the wave and disagreement between the leaders of the crowd on the one hand, and between the crowd and Abdul Mahdi on the other,” noting the “new Arab”, that “Maliki wants to be the defender of the crowd, Abdul Mahdi’s decision to create a state of rebellion against the decision, and to be the leader of the insurgency.
He pointed out that “the general situation is not reassuring after the intervention of al-Maliki, especially as the crowd led by Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes announced the day before yesterday the establishment of an air defense institution affiliated with it, and interpreted this as a departure from the authority of the government and exceeded the powers.”
All this is taking place at a time of intense political debate, after the Hashd camps were bombed, which Washington and Israel accused of carrying out, while the government sought to calm the situation.
The Hashd militias, backed by Iran, have a significant force, while Abdul Mahdi tries to include them in his power within the military establishment.