Dozens demonstrate in Mosul to support PM Maliki

NINEWA / IraqiNews.com: Dozens of Mosul citizens have taken to the streets of the city on Tuesday, to express support for Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki and the security bodies of Ninewa Province, a security source said on Tuesday. “About 100 demonstrators have gathered in the Celebrations Square in northern Mosul on Tuesday morning, in a peaceful demonstration, supporting the Iraqi Prime Minister and the commanders of the security bodies of Ninewa Province,” the security source told IraqiNews.com news agency. A security source has stated last Saturday that the State of Law Alliance (led by PM Maliki), intended to demonstrate in support of the Prime Minister and the security bodies in the Province. The State of Law Alliance’s member in Mosul, Fadhil al-Hadidy, who attended the demonstration said, “We reject the presence of the U.S. troops in Iraq and demand the release of detainees.” Hadidy pointed out that “the said demonstration took place in support of Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki and the commanders of the security bodies, including the Commander of the Iraqi Army’s 2nd Division, Major-General, Nasser al-Ghannam.” Ninewa’s Governor, Athel al-Nujeify, had told IraqiNews.com in a phone call that the official work had been halted in all Ninewa Province’s departments, in protest against the suppression of demonstrations by Ninewa Operations Command. Five demonstrators had been injured, when the security forces prevented the demonstrators to enter central Mosul’s al-Ahrar (Liberation) Square on Monday. Mosul, the center of Ninewa Province, is 405 km to the north of Baghdad. SKH (TR)/SR 574