Iraqi PM stresses removal of armed forces from political differences in country

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has called for impartiality and the removal of armed forces from political differences and conflicts in the country.

Abadi’s speech came during a meeting with military and security leaders at the joint operations command headquarters on Sunday.

The Prime Minister, who is also the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, congratulated the first Eid al-Fitr celebration following the defeat of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq. He also praised the role of the Iraqi forces in battling the extremist group.

He emphasized on restricting arms to the state during his meeting with security and military commanders, according to his press office.

Many militia groups in the country who have been battling IS alongside the Iraqi security forces. Those militia groups remain a security threat to the post-IS situation as they have been heavily armed and follow orders from different commanders, analysts predict.

Abadi also discussed the necessity to combat corruption in the government institutions across the country.

“The security institution must be removed from any manifestations of corruption and remain impartial and above suspicion,” he continued. “The investigation is being conducted based on any suspicions.”

Iraq remains high on Transparency International’s corruption index as widespread fraud and mismanagement in state institutions are the most significant challenges facing the country since the fall of the former regime nearly 15 years ago.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany