Demonstrations planned in various Iraqi cities
Demonstrations planned in various Iraqi cities
Iraqi activists, intellectuals, unemployed workers are preparing for what is predicted to be a large demonstrations, today in al-Tahrir square in central Baghdad. Protests will also take place in many other cities.
Using social networks like Facebook, Twitter and other websites to circulate invitations the organizers are calling the demonstrations the "Iraqi revolution." A Facebook page called "The Iraqi Revolution" includes still pictures and videos of previous demonstrations in Iraq and claims nearly 20,000 supporters.
The government put up an apparently quiet face.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that "the Iraqi government welcomes any demonstration by Iraqi people as long as it's a peaceful demonstration."
But from the military came the warning that intelligence gathered suggests the possibility of al-Qaeda attacking the marches and the protesters.
When journalists asked Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki about today planned demonstrations during a news conference at his office this week, al-Maliki said, "I am not concerned (about) these demonstrations because the political system in Iraq is a democratic system and I am not concerned on the future of our political system at all."
The Iraqi government was formed in December, nine months after an inconclusive national election. This is the second elected government in the nearly eight years after a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.
Last Sunday, Iraqi lawmakers approved Iraq's 2011 budget of 96.6 trillion dinar ($81.86 billion) after it was submitted by the council of ministers on February 6. National income is predicted to be $68.56 billion, leaving a shortfall of $13.3 billion (about a 16% budget deficit). The budget is based on average oil prices of $76.5 per barrel and projected exports of 2.2 million barrels of oil per day and includes 100,000 barrels per day of exports from the autonomous Kurdish region.
Last Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators protested in Baghdad and Sulaimaniya against lack of basic services, unemployment and corruption.
Using social networks like Facebook, Twitter and other websites to circulate invitations the organizers are calling the demonstrations the "Iraqi revolution." A Facebook page called "The Iraqi Revolution" includes still pictures and videos of previous demonstrations in Iraq and claims nearly 20,000 supporters.
The government put up an apparently quiet face.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that "the Iraqi government welcomes any demonstration by Iraqi people as long as it's a peaceful demonstration."
But from the military came the warning that intelligence gathered suggests the possibility of al-Qaeda attacking the marches and the protesters.
When journalists asked Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki about today planned demonstrations during a news conference at his office this week, al-Maliki said, "I am not concerned (about) these demonstrations because the political system in Iraq is a democratic system and I am not concerned on the future of our political system at all."
The Iraqi government was formed in December, nine months after an inconclusive national election. This is the second elected government in the nearly eight years after a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.
Last Sunday, Iraqi lawmakers approved Iraq's 2011 budget of 96.6 trillion dinar ($81.86 billion) after it was submitted by the council of ministers on February 6. National income is predicted to be $68.56 billion, leaving a shortfall of $13.3 billion (about a 16% budget deficit). The budget is based on average oil prices of $76.5 per barrel and projected exports of 2.2 million barrels of oil per day and includes 100,000 barrels per day of exports from the autonomous Kurdish region.
Last Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators protested in Baghdad and Sulaimaniya against lack of basic services, unemployment and corruption.
