President signs off on appointment of provincial governors

Two weeks since provincial councils began forming local governments, 13 out of 15 provinces have now elected their governors.

In Diyala and Kirkuk, intense political disputes have stalled the formation of local governments. Diyala provincial council will need to decide whether to elect a governor from Badr or Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, while the Kurds and Sunni Arabs of Kirkuk vie for control over their local government.

On Tueday, President Latif Rashid signed presidential decrees for 12 governors but abstained from approving the appointment of Salahudin governor Ahmed Abdullah Al-Juburi because of pending legal challenges to his election. Political rivals have objected to Juburi’s election on the basis of his prior criminal record.