Demonstrators demand Kuwait change policies

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Hundreds of citizens demonstrated today in Tahrir Square in the center of Baghdad demanding the Iraqi government stop paying compensations to the Kuwaiti government. The compensations were imposed on Iraq after Gulf War I in 1991 by the UN Security Council. An eye witness said placards were raised denouncing Kuwaiti intention to build Mobarak terminal in Bobyan island, which case will damage the Iraqi economy. A group of MPs formed a new parliamentary gathering called 17 May to follow up the question of Kuwaiti terminal. This gathering comprising of 15 MPs with no specific party affiliation, but one objective which is to protect the borders of Iraq, particularly the issue of the terminal, as MP Alia Nisaif said. Kuwait announce on 6 April last the start for building Mobarak terminal after one year of Iraq‘s intention to construct the Greater Fao Port. Iraqi Ministry of Transport laid the corner stone of the port on 4 April, 2010, which expected to have a 39-km container pier , an container open space with more than one million square meters, in addition to other facilities. The total capacity of the port shall be 99 million tons per year, with a cost of 4.4 billion Euros, which is expected to connect Iraqi ports with Europe via Turkey by a railway line. On the other hand, the demonstrators continued their demands for reforms, combating corruption, release innocent detainees, provision of work opportunities and develop social services. Premier Nouri Al-Maliki announced, on 27 February last, after two days of the demonstrations eruption all over Iraq, a 100-day period for all ministries to improve their activities and put remedies with drastic solutions that will serve the citizens. RM (TI)/SR 1531