Category Archives: Iraq news

Game or golden opportunity?

Evin Cheikosman

By Evin Cheikosman: As I write this article, the citizens of Iraq are going through the worst build-up of an ethno-sectarian war since the 2003 U.S. invasion. Right now Iraq’s citizens are witnesses to looting, bombing, fighting, killing, they are witness to new faces, languages, laws, and rules. As of today, Iraq will never be the…

At last, Iraq falls apart

By Mufid Abdulla: With the unfolding tragedy of Syria and the undermining of the opposition to the Assad regime by Islamist groups, it became plain that it was wishful thinking to think that ISIS, the strongest of the Islamist groups, would just fade away. In the past few days ISIS has made extraordinary advances within…

Kurd oil dispute sharpens: Iraq to ‘go to UN’, US warns of ‘serious legal risk’

KT News: The dispute over Kurdish oil sales has escalated with the Iraq oil minister threatening to appeal to the United Nations, and a US State Department official warning the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Turkey about legal risks. Speaking in Vienna yesterday, ahead of an Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting, Iraq…

Election terror: suicide bomber murders 30 in Khaneqin

KT News: 30 people were killed and about 50 were injured at a Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) election rally in Khanaqin today when a suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd that had gathered to watch televised footage of PUK leader Jalal Talabani casting his vote in Germany, where he has been in…

Nouri Al-Maliki’s new authoritarian theory: Blood for Blood

Kamal Chomani

By Kamal Chomani: Twitter: @KamalChomani Since 2006 more than 250 journalists and academics have been killed in Iraq; their blood has gone for free. It was only a week ago that Iraq’s Premier, Nouri Al-Maliki, woke up and theorized an authoritarian theory for killing a journalist; blood for blood. Maliki has been making propaganda for…

Nechirvan Barzani in crisis talks with Baghdad over budget and oil

KT News A Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation led by prime minister Nechirvan Barzani has gone to Baghdad today to discuss the budget crisis and oil dispute. This week the Iraq central government, led by prime minister Nuri Maliki, took steps to counter the developing oil links between the KRG and Turkey. Iraqi Kurdish ministers…

Peshmergas deployed to fill Kirkuk security vacuum

Peshmarga forces

KT News: Kurdish Peshmerga forces have been sent to the outskirts of Kirkuk to protect local citizens from sectarian violence. The threat of terrorist attack has increased with the deepening dispute between Iraq’s Sunni population and the Maliki government. Last week dozens were killed and injured in Kirkuk in yet another bombing. According to the…

Crisis in Iraq reaches boiling point

KT News and Comment: The crisis in the Sunni-majority areas of Iraq has escalated dramatically this week after troops opened fire on protestors, yesterday and on Monday, killing around 50 people and injuring hundreds. Today at least another 15 died in clashes between government forces and Sunni gunmen who have apparently launched revenge attacks. Bookmark…

Al Qaeda and ex-Baathists ‘exploiting’ protests against Maliki

KT News and Comment: Southern Iraq continues to be convulsed every week by mass demonstrations called by pro-Sunni parties protesting at the authoritarian and sectarian policies of Maliki’s pro-Shia government. In Anbar and Ramadi, opposition forces are threatening to march on Baghdad to conduct their Friday prayers in the capital. This would amount to a…

Curfew imposed in Baghdad

KT News and Comment: Iraqi security forces have imposed a curfew on the Azamia district in Baghdad, following a recent demonstration and ensuing violence in the capital. According to eye witnesses, security forces are not allowing anyone to enter the area and this situation is likely to continue until after Friday prayers. Bookmark on Delicious…

Dozens die in Iraq car bombs

Bagdad bombing

KT News and Comment: It is another day of mass murder in Iraq. At least 36 people were killed and more than 80 injured in a spate of car bombings in mainly Shia areas. 17 people died in two explosions at the entrance to the Kazimyah market in Baghdad. This was followed by two deadly…

Maliki is pushing parties towards sectarian conflict and the division of Iraq

KT News and Comment: LATEST: A suicide bomber and gunmen have killed 33 people today in an attack on a police station in Kirkuk. The nightmare is unending …  Shwan Muhamed Taha, an MP belonging to the Kurdistani Coalition in the Iraq parliament, told Sumaria News yesterday that the withdrawal from parliament of the Iraqia…

Maliki imposes a curfew on Fallujah after army kills demonstrators

KT News and Comment: Iraq prime minister Maliki has imposed a curfew on the city of Fallujah after at least five people were killed today and 60 injured when troops opened fire on unarmed protestors. This was the first time protestors have been killed by the army since the current round of protests by Sunni…

Iraq government fails to protect Shia Turkmen

KT News and Comment: At least 35 people were killed and up to 200 injured in Tuz Khurmatu, Iraq, yesterday when a car driven by a suicide bomber exploded in the vicinity of a Shia Turkmen funeral. Tuz Khurmatu, 56 miles south of the city of Kirkuk, is mainly populated by Kurds and Turkmen. Local…

Sunni Iraq engulfed in protests against Maliki

KT News: Mass protests against the Iraq government are continuing across the country, including in Mosul, Anbar and Ramadi. Ayad Allawi, leader of the Sunni opposition Iraqiya list, has called on the Iraqi parliament to dismiss the Shia-dominated government and set up a provisional government which would hold early elections. Ibrahim Jaafary, leader of the National…