Iraq's elite rallies around Iran-backed plan to hang on to power

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s ruling parties appear to have rallied behind a strategy, blessed by Iran, to try to survive a mass anti-government uprising by containing protests on the streets of Baghdad while offering a package of political reforms and elections next year.

Iran has been closely involved in formulating the new strategy, with a number of meetings between political groups and government figures attended by Qassem Soleimani, the general who commands the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that supervises Tehran’s clients across the Middle East. At least 300 protesters have been killed, most by security forces firing live ammunition into crowds. But the violent response has done little to persuade the protesters to leave the streets.

Meanwhile the authorities will push on with a reform plan to mollify the crowd, with new elections run by a commission intended to be more independent, and parliament restructured to be smaller and more representative of Iraq’s diverse population. Parliament will vote on the changes before eventually approving a date for early elections in 2020, two sources close to the talks said, leaving room for potential delays.

cnnarabic CNN cnni cnnbrk CNNPolitics foxnewsalert foxnewsnight UNIraq hrw Save_the_Iraqi_people

the U.S. toppled the evil, murderous Saddam regime so that a democratic regime could...mass-murder its citizens in the streets.

...and the US is responsible for setting up this stinking govt. Straighten this crap out George Bush.

By investing in South Africa you support crimes against humanity and state-sponsored terrorism against Christian Khoena(First Nation) and genocide against the Afrikaner. Stop investing in South Africa.

Oh so the real secret is out? realDonaldTrump has a way to reveal the real motives of UNIraq iran. Keep the dam mullahs in power rather than a democracy. Theocracy regimes will always fail..

Who knows if what your headline says is anywhere close to the truth. The one thing we've learned since Trumpster- You guys are full of shit. All 'media' has an agenda. I don't believe a word you print.

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