BFF-09 Iraq PM sacks paramilitary chief

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BFF-09

IRAQ-POLITICS-DEFENCE

Iraq PM sacks paramilitary chief

BAGHDAD, Aug 31, 2018 (AFP) – Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on
Thursday announced the dismissal of the head of the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi
paramilitary force, which played a major role in stinging defeats of the
Islamic State jihadist group.

The prime minister in a statement reproached the force’s head Falih
Alfayyadh for “having been implicated in partisan political matters which
contravene the rules of neutrality which apply to members of the security and
intelligence forces”,

Alfayyadh, 62, was also dismissed from his position as national security
advisor.

Despite being on the PM’s electoral list ahead of legislative polls that
took place in May, the prime minister suspected Alfayyadh of negotiating
behind his back with rival Hadi al-Ameri as post-election talks were
underway.

The Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) auxiliary force was created by
the government in 2014, after a call to jihad by the spiritual leader of the
Shiite community, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani to help in the fight against
IS.

BSS/AFP/MRI/0829 hrs