Iraq ex-PM blamed for Mosul fall to IS

Iraq ex-PM blamed for Mosul fall to IS

Bbc

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

An Iraqi parliamentary panel has called for former PM Nouri Maliki to face trial over the fall of the northern city of Mosul to Islamic State.

More than 30 other officials including former Mosul governor Athil al-Nujaifi were also blamed in the report.
The militants seized Mosul in a sweep across north and west Iraq last year.

Mr Maliki, a Shia, is seen as having fanned sectarian tensions, leading to a growth of discontent in those mainly Sunni Arab areas captured by IS.

Hours earlier, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi cleared the way for a court martial of military commanders who abandoned their posts as another city, Ramadi, fell to IS in May this year.

The moves come as the current government continues a major campaign to combat corruption and mismanagement.

On Sunday Mr Abadi announced he was cutting eleven ministerial posts, reducing the size of the Cabinet by a third.

Iraqis have staged regular protests in recent weeks against corruption and incompetence triggered by power shortages during a heatwave.

The report on Mosul was approved by 16 of the parliamentary committee's 24 members, and will be submitted to a vote by the whole chamber on Monday, MPs said.




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