Iraq: Parliament Approves Appointing Two New Ministers after PM Promises Sweeping Reforms

By Staff, Agencies

Iraq appointed new education and health ministers Thursday, a day after Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi promised to reshuffle his government and enact reforms to try to stem unrest.

Suha Khalil is one of few women to have become a minister in Iraq. Her appointment was approved by Parliament, which also voted for the appointment of the new health minister, Jaafar Allawi, after his predecessor quit before the wave of unrest. The changes are unlikely to satisfy Iraqis after more than 110 people were killed in a government crackdown on protests that began last week over jobs, services and graft.

The protesters blame a corrupt and divided political class for failing to improve their lives even in peacetime, some two years after Daesh [the Arabic acronym for terrorist ‘ISIS/ISIL’ group] was declared defeated in Iraq.

The unrest has been the biggest security challenge for the country since then.

Abdul Mahdi Wednesday declared three days of national mourning, said he had not ordered the use of live ammunition and announced measures aimed at placating protesters including a cabinet reshuffle, punishment of corrupt officials, job opportunities for the unemployed and stipends for the poor.