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Iraqi leader denies alleged deal with Iran to end protests

Iraqi leader denies alleged deal with Iran to end protests
posted onNovember 11, 2019
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The commander of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds forces Qassem Suleimani has reportedly reached a deal with major Iraqi political parties to end the protests, AFP reported.

Yet Iraqi prominent Shiite leader, Ayatollah Sistani, has rejected such deals with Iran a day after the reports were published.

“The agreement is the product of a series of meetings, including gatherings led by Major General Qasem Soleimani,” the report said.

These fractions have reportedly agreed to protect Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s government with any means necessary in order to put an end to the wide-spreads protests across the country.

“Most of the heads of major blocs agreed in a meeting to keep Adel Abdl Mahdi and maintain power in exchange for reforms on corruption and constitutional amendments,” a high-ranking member of an Iraqi political party and a participant in the meetings told AFP on condition of anonymity. 

“They agreed to end the protests with any means possible and to reopen the bridges and shuttered streets,” said the official.

Iran is highly criticized for its interventions in Iraq. Hundreds of Iraqi protesters were allegedly shot dead by Iranian snipers as Tehran concerns about its interests in Iraq.