The Islamic State remains active in Iraq. It never went away. Despite claims that it was defeated and destroyed, it has remained in Iraq and remained active.
Meanwhile ALJAZEERA reports:
Iraq's judiciary ordered courts on Sunday to
release anti-government protesters, carrying out one of the first
decisions of the recently inaugurated prime minister, as dozens of
demonstrators burned tyres in renewed protests against the new
leadership.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also promoted a
well-respected Iraqi general, who played a key role in the military
campaign against the armed group ISIL (ISIS) to lead counter-terrorism
operations.
THE NATIONAL adds:
The new premier also reinstated and promoted General Abdulwahab Al Saadi, a popular military figure whose abrupt dismissal by previous premier Adel Abdul Mahdi in September had been a main catalyst of the first protests.
[. . .]
Protesters turned out overnight in the city of Kut, setting fire to the
headquarters of the Iran-backed Badr Organisation and to the home of an MP affiliated with another Tehran-aligned faction, according to AFP.
Hundreds more hit the streets on Sunday morning.
And Mr Al Kadhimi called on parliament to adopt the new electoral law needed for early polls as demanded by the protesters.
Still, demonstrators remained sceptical.
"We will give him 10 days to prove himself, and if our demands aren't met, then we will escalate," said Mohammad, a student protester returning to Tahrir on Sunday.
"Today is a message."
The protests never really stopped.
The protesters are watching to see signs of change. Declaring Ali Allawi (Ahmed Chalabi's nephew) to be Minister of Oil probably doesn't signal any real change.
