Iraqi PM gives cabinet 100-day ultimatum

Sun Feb 27, 2011

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has given a 100-day period ultimatum to his cabinet to improve the living condition of Iraqis in an effort to calm anti-government protests.

A statement from Maliki's office said on Sunday that the Iraqi premier took the initiative to resolve "changes" facing the war-torn country.

"Mr. Maliki specified a 100-day period after which an assessment of the work of the government and ministries will be carried out to find out the level of their individual success or failure in performing their jobs," AFP quoted the statement as saying.

The ultimatum started on Sunday, the statement said, adding, "Changes will be made based on the assessments."

It further added that Maliki plans to take new measures to fight corruption and cronyism in the Iraqi government.

Maliki made the move as the country faced massive protests on Friday due to poor public services, rampant graft and high unemployment.

At least 20 people were killed and many others injured on Friday after Iraqi security forces clashed with demonstrators who took to the streets of the capital Baghdad and other major cities for a "Day of Rage."

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/167312.html.