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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Iraq's Deputy PM Baha al-Araji Resigns, Faces Corruption Investigation Monday Aug 10,2015

One of Iraq's three deputy prime ministers resigned on Monday Aug 10,2015 and will be investigated for corruption, officials said, the first tangible result of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's push to tackle corruption in the face of mounting unrest.

Emboldened by widespread anti-government protests and a call by a leading Shi'ite Muslim cleric for tougher action, Abadi announced measures over the weekend aimed at reforming a system critics say hands high office to unqualified candidates and encourages corruption.

Demonstrators chant in support of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as they wave national flags during a demonstration at Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015
Demonstrators chant in support of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as they wave national flags during a demonstration at Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. 

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi proposed scrapping Iraq's multiple vice president and deputy prime minister positions, currently shared out along sectarian lines.

While parliament is expected to take up the proposals on Tuesday, the departure of Baha al-Araji, deputy prime minister for energy affairs, suggested Abadi had already gained the support of powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Abdul-Sattar al-Birqdar, spokesman for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, said the public prosecutor had ordered a corruption investigation into Araji.

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