Demonstrators in Iraq reject new the prime minister Mohammed Allawi
Foreign staff
Monday February 03 2020, 12.01am GMT, The Times
An anti-government protester jumps over a barricade during a demonstration in Najaf
HADI MIZBAN/AP
Hundreds of anti-government demonstrators in Iraq yesterday rejected the new prime minister-designate, who was recently nominated by rival government factions. Demonstrators have long sworn that they would not accept a candidate chosen by Iraq’s establishment.
The choice of Mohammed Allawi, 66, the former communications minister, to replace Adel Abdul-Mahdi, was made after months of back-room talks between rival parties, ending a political stalemate.
Hundreds of students voiced their rejection of Mr Allawi at rallies in Baghdad’s central plazas and in southern Iraq.
Muqtada al-Sadr, the influential cleric, supports the nomination and asked his followers camped out in Tahrir Square and its surrounding plazas to resume “day-to-day life” yesterday by opening cut roads and ensuring schools and government offices remained open.