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Iraq's PM unharmed following 'failed assassination attempt' with drone attack

It came as several hundred supporters of pro-Iranian groups protested near the entrance of the Green Zone against the results of general elections on 10 October.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi Source: AP

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi has been "unharmed" in a "failed assassination attempt" after a drone attack on his official residence, his office said. 

"A drone tried to target the residence" of the premier, who was not injured, his office said in a statement on Sunday.

Shortly afterward, Mr al-Kadhemi said he was "fine" and called for "calm and restraint".

"I'm doing fine, praise be to God, and I call for calm and restraint on the part of everyone for the good of Iraq," he wrote on Twitter.

Two Iraqi officials told the Associated Press that seven of his security guards were injured in the attack. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to give official statements.

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Residents of Baghdad heard the sound of an explosion followed by gunfire from the direction of the Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and government offices.It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, nor did anyone immediately claim responsibility.

It came as several hundred supporters of pro-Iranian groups protested near the entrance of the Green Zone against the results of general elections on 10 October. 

The United States, the UN Security Council and others have praised the vote, which was mostly free of violence and without major technical glitches.

Following the vote, militia supporters had pitched tents near the Green Zone, rejecting the election results and threatening violence unless their demands for a recount were met.

The unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud have cast a shadow over the elections. The stand-off with the militia supporters has also increased tensions among rival Shi'ite factions that could reflect on the street and threaten Iraq's newly found relative stability.

The election was held months ahead of schedule in response to mass protests in late 2019, which saw tens of thousands in Baghdad and predominantly Shi'ite southern provinces rally against endemic corruption, poor services and unemployment.

With AAP.


2 min read

Published

Source: AFP, SBS




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