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Iraq PM censures UAE minister’s insults to volunteer troops

Saturday, 27 February 2016 7:33 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 February 2016 8:01 AM ]

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ©AFP

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has denounced comments by the UAE foreign minister about volunteer forces fighting Takfiri groups, saying they amounted to meddling in Iraq's internal affairs.

Abadi reiterated support for the Hashd al-Sha'abi (Popular Mobilization) units, saying they have fought alongside the army against Daesh militants, Iraq’s al-Sumaria news channel reported on Friday.

The remarks came after UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan compared Iraq's volunteer forces to the Daesh and al-Nusra Front, saying they must be eliminated like the Takfiri militants.

Abadi expressed shock over the analogy, saying the popular units are affiliated with his office and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

The volunteer forces have liberated several Daesh-held areas and are helping counter the threat of terrorism, said the Iraqi premier.

He also called on Persian Gulf Arab states to support Baghdad in its anti-terror battle instead of adopting such stances.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Jamal also said the Emirati FM's remarks constituted an obvious meddling in his country’s internal affairs and a clear insult to security and military organizations.

Senior lawmaker Ahlam al-Husseini slammed Zayed’s comments as a blatant violation of international laws, saying such remarks are indicative of the UAE's backing for terrorism and Daesh.

Members of the Popular Mobilization Units carry a rocket during clashes with Daesh terrorists in Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk on February 18, 2016. ©AFP

A number of Iraqi lawmakers are reportedly planning to call on the government to expel the Emirati ambassador.

The UAE is among the countries helping the US purportedly target Daesh positions in Syria since September 2014.

Zayed’s remarks echoed those by Saudi Ambassador to Baghdad Thamer al-Sabhan, who claimed last month that the volunteer fighters were not popular among Iraqi people and accused them of sectarianism.

Baghdad summoned Sabhan and denounced his remarks as “a break of diplomatic protocol and based on inaccurate information.”

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari defended the volunteer forces, saying they are legitimate forces who have made many sacrifices for the Arab state.

The Popular Mobilization, formed after the rise of Daesh in Iraq in 2014, has joined forces with the army to win back militant-held regions.

The volunteer fighters have played an important role in strengthening the army, which initially suffered heavy losses amid quick advances by the Takfiri terrorists.

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