Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Shiite anger after Saudi Arabia executes top cleric
• The Latest: Protesters enter Saudi embassy in Iran
• Iran 'sponsors terror', has 'no shame': Saudi
• Drowned toddler becomes first 2016 migrant casualty in the Aegean
• Vatican accord with Palestine comes into effect
• Saudi execution risks fueling sectarian tensions: US
• Shi'ite cleric among 47 executed in Saudi Arabia, stirring anger in region
• NEWS GUIDE: Saudi execution of Shiite leader stokes tensions
• Shi'ite Muslims worldwide decry execution of Saudi cleric
• Outrage in Iraq over Saudi execution of Shiite cleric
• IS counterattacks target Iraqi troops in Ramadi
• Saudi Arabia executes top Shiite cleric
• Iraqi figures urge severing of new Saudi ties over Nimr execution
• Execution of Saudi cleric latest blow to hopes of rapprochement with Iran
• Aid groups create huge peace sign of life jackets on Greek isle
• Saudi execution of Shiite cleric sparks outrage
• Saudi using execution to settle political scores: Amnesty
• Iraq's Sadr calls for protests in Gulf, Iraq, after Nimr execution
• After alert, German minister urges closer ties to foreign agencies
• Iraq's Maliki says Nimr execution will topple Saudi government
• Iraqi MP says Nimr execution serves Islamic State
• Inquiry: UK soldiers who fought in Iraq may face prosecution
• British soldiers may face Iraq prosecutions: investigator
• British troops could face charges over Iraq War: probe chief
• Iraq MP says Nimr execution will fuel Sunni-Shi'ite strife: TV
• As 2016 dawns, Europe braces for more waves of migrants

Shiite anger after Saudi Arabia executes top cleric Posted: 02 Jan 2016 04:54 PM PST Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed a prominent Shiite cleric, prompting outrage in Shiite-majority Iran, where angry crowds set fire to the kingdom's embassy and consulate. Nimr al-Nimr, 56, who spent more than a decade studying theology in Iran, was a driving figure behind anti-government protests in Saudi Arabia in 2011. The executions sparked protests in at least one city in Saudi Arabia's oil-rich Eastern Province, where Shiites complain of marginalisation, as well as in Iran, Iraq and Bahrain.

The Latest: Protesters enter Saudi embassy in Iran Posted: 02 Jan 2016 04:02 PM PST RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The latest developments following Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 people, including a prominent opposition Shiite cleric who had rallied demonstrations in the kingdom (All times local).

Iran 'sponsors terror', has 'no shame': Saudi Posted: 02 Jan 2016 02:41 PM PST Saudi Arabia accused Iran of sponsoring terror and undermining regional stability, as a diplomatic spat between both countries escalated Saturday over the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. "The Iranian regime is the last regime in the world that could accuse others of supporting terrorism, considering that (Iran) is a state that sponsors terror, and is condemned by the United Nations and many countries," said a foreign ministry spokesman in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency. The statement was the second after the kingdom's foreign ministry announced it had summoned the Iranian ambassador in Riyadh to protest an "aggressive" statement by Tehran on the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Drowned toddler becomes first 2016 migrant casualty in the Aegean Posted: 02 Jan 2016 01:58 PM PST A drowned two-year-old boy became the first known migrant casualty of the year on Saturday after the crowded dinghy he was travelling in slammed into rocks off Greece's Agathonisi island, the coastguard said. The rubber vessel had set off from Turkey in the early morning in windy weather. The charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), which helps save migrants and refugees at sea, deployed its fast-rescue Responder boat to help bring the stranded passengers to safety in a joint operation with the Hellenic coastguard.

Vatican accord with Palestine comes into effect Posted: 02 Jan 2016 01:28 PM PST An agreement signed last year making the Vatican's de facto recognition of Palestine in 2012 official has come into effect, the Holy See said on Saturday. The Vatican signed its first treaty with the "State of Palestine" last June when it called for moves to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and backed a two-state solution. "... the Holy See and the State of Palestine have notified each other that the procedural requirements for (the accord's) entry into force have been fulfilled, the Vatican said in a statement on Saturday.

Saudi execution risks fueling sectarian tensions: US Posted: 02 Jan 2016 01:22 PM PST The US also urged Riyadh to "respect and protect" human rights, said State Department spokesman John Kirby, following the execution of Nimr al-Nimr. The executions sparked angry condemnation from Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq, while the EU similarly expressed concern about possible "dangerous consequences" in a region already fraught with sectarian tensions. "The United States also urges the government of Saudi Arabia to permit peaceful expression of dissent and to work together with all community leaders to defuse tensions in the wake of these executions," Kirby said in a statement.

Shi'ite cleric among 47 executed in Saudi Arabia, stirring anger in region Posted: 02 Jan 2016 01:18 PM PST By Angus McDowall RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric and dozens of al Qaeda members on Saturday, signaling that it would not tolerate attacks, whether by Sunni jihadists or minority Shi'ites, and stirring sectarian anger across the region. Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims marched through Qatif district in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province in protest at the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr, an eyewitness said. Nimr, the most vocal critic of the dynasty among the Shi'ite minority, had come to be seen as a leader of the sect's younger activists, who rejected the quiet approach of older community leaders for failing to achieve equality with Sunnis.

NEWS GUIDE: Saudi execution of Shiite leader stokes tensions Posted: 02 Jan 2016 12:27 PM PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of 47 prisoners, including an influential Shiite cleric, has prompted a wave of condemnation from Shiite leaders around the region and threatens to further damage Sunni-Shiite relations across the Middle East. Hundreds of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's supporters protested his execution in his hometown in eastern Saudi Arabia, in neighboring Bahrain and as far away as northern India.

Shi'ite Muslims worldwide decry execution of Saudi cleric Posted: 02 Jan 2016 12:11 PM PST By Sam Wilkin DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's execution of a leading cleric from the Shi'ite Muslim minority drew protests from around the world against the ruling Al Saud family and threatened to further intensify a wave of sectarian conflict in the Middle East. Lebanon's Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council called Saturday's execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr a "grave mistake", and the Hezbollah group termed it an assassination as Shi'ites took to the streets in protest from Tehran to Kashmir. Saudi Arabia executed 47 people including Nimr, whom the government accused of inciting violence against the police.

Outrage in Iraq over Saudi execution of Shiite cleric Posted: 02 Jan 2016 12:10 PM PST The execution in Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric Saturday sparked outrage in neighbouring Iraq, from protesters threatening the royal family to politicians calling for diplomatic action. Hundreds of people demonstrated in the holy Shiite city of Karbala and some leaders urged the government to close down the newly reopened Saudi embassy in Baghdad. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of protests that broke out in 2011 in the Sunni-ruled kingdom's east, was among 47 people executed in Saudi Arabia.

IS counterattacks target Iraqi troops in Ramadi Posted: 02 Jan 2016 12:04 PM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — Islamic State group militants continue to launch a series of counterattacks against Iraqi government forces on the edges of the western city of Ramadi days after the militant group was driven out of the city center, according to the U.S.-led coalition.

Saudi Arabia executes top Shiite cleric Posted: 02 Jan 2016 12:00 PM PST Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia executed Saturday a prominent Shiite cleric, who had been behind anti-government protests, drawing angry condemnation from Shiite-majority Iran and Iraq. Nimr al-Nimr, 56, was executed along with 46 other men, including Shiite activists and Sunnis accused of involvement in Al-Qaeda killings, the interior ministry said.

Iraqi figures urge severing of new Saudi ties over Nimr execution Posted: 02 Jan 2016 11:33 AM PST By Stephen Kalin and Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's prime minister condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday amid calls from prominent religious and political figures to sever ties with Riyadh and abort a recent rapprochement. The Sunni-ruled kingdom reopened its embassy in Baghdad this week for the first time since ties were cut in 1990 over Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, underscoring fence-mending efforts that could help boost a regional alliance against Islamic State militants. "I urge the government to refrain from opening the Saudi embassy," prominent Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said in a statement, calling for demonstrations in his country and across the Gulf to protest the execution.

Execution of Saudi cleric latest blow to hopes of rapprochement with Iran Posted: 02 Jan 2016 09:47 AM PST By Sam Wilkin DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian clerics, officials and students attacked Sunni Muslim-ruled Saudi Arabia on Saturday for executing Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a move that seemed to further doom any hope of rapprochement between two ideologically opposed powers vying for influence across the region. Nimr, executed along with three other Shi'ites and dozens of al Qaeda members, is seen in Iran as the champion of a Shi'ite minority oppressed in Saudi Arabia, and Tehran had made clear that it saw the terrorism charges against him as fabricated. Iran summoned the Saudi charge d'affaires in Tehran, accusing the kingdom of using terrorism as a pretext to suppress peaceful dissent among Shi'ites, who complain of systemic discrimination.

Aid groups create huge peace sign of life jackets on Greek isle Posted: 02 Jan 2016 09:31 AM PST Rights groups briefly transformed a mountain of discarded life jackets used by refugees who crossed the Aegean Sea into a huge peace sign on the hills of the Greek island of Lesbos. The giant symbol, which was made out of around 3,000 flourescent orange life jackets, was created on a hillside overlooking the 10-kilometre (six mile) stretch of water between the island's northern shores and the Turkish coastline, the Greenpeace website said. It was formed on New Year's Day by around 100 volunteers from Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders, Sea-Watch and the Dutch Refugee Boat Foundation as well as the local community group, Starfish.

Saudi execution of Shiite cleric sparks outrage Posted: 02 Jan 2016 08:56 AM PST Saudi Arabia's execution Saturday of a prominent Shiite cleric and 46 other men prompted outrage in parts of the Middle East, with Iran warning Riyadh would pay a "high price". Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari strongly condemned Riyadh for executing Nimr despite repeated Iranian requests for clemency.

Saudi using execution to settle political scores: Amnesty Posted: 02 Jan 2016 08:46 AM PST Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric indicates the kingdom is "using execution to settle political scores", rights group Amnesty International said Saturday. Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force of 2011 Arab Spring-inspired protests in the country's east where a Shia majority complains of marginalisation, was among 47 people executed on Saturday after a trial criticised by human rights groups as unfair. "What the Saudi Arabian authorities have said so far indicates they regard these executions as taken to preserve security.

Iraq's Sadr calls for protests in Gulf, Iraq, after Nimr execution Posted: 02 Jan 2016 06:02 AM PST Prominent Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on Saturday for demonstrations in Gulf countries and in Iraq to protest the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia."I ask that the Shi'ites of Saudi Arabia ... show courage in responding even through peaceful demonstrations, and the same for the Shi'ites in the Gulf, so as to deter injustice and government terrorism in the future," he said on his website. "I urge ... angry demonstrations in front of Saudi sites and interests, and I urge the government to refrain from opening the Saudi embassy," he said.Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Iraq this week.

After alert, German minister urges closer ties to foreign agencies Posted: 02 Jan 2016 05:06 AM PST German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Saturday closer cooperation with foreign security services was needed after a New Year's Eve security alert in Munich highlighted fears about an attack on German soil. Shortly before midnight on Dec. 31, police cleared two stations in the Bavarian capital after a tipoff that militants from Iraq and Syria were planning attacks. De Maiziere said the threat of an attack had not diminished.

Iraq's Maliki says Nimr execution will topple Saudi government Posted: 02 Jan 2016 05:00 AM PST BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The execution of prominent cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday will mark the end of Saudi Arabia's government, said Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's former prime minister and a prominent politician with ties to Iran. "We strongly condemn these detestable sectarian practices and affirm that the crime of executing Sheikh al-Nimr will topple the Saudi regime as the crime of executing the martyr (Mohammed Baqir) al-Sadr did to Saddam (Hussein)," said Maliki, referring to another prominent Shi'ite cleric killed in 1980. ...

Iraqi MP says Nimr execution serves Islamic State Posted: 02 Jan 2016 04:39 AM PST Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Saudi Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr serves the interests of Islamic State, a prominent Iraqi lawmaker with ties to Iran said on Saturday in a statement condemning the act. "The execution of Sheikh al-Nimr is a service to Daesh, which is betting on expanding by igniting sectarian wars," said Humam Hamoudi, a prominent Shi'ite politician and member of the powerful Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) party.

Inquiry: UK soldiers who fought in Iraq may face prosecution Posted: 02 Jan 2016 04:16 AM PST LONDON (AP) — The head of an official British investigation into alleged abuses during the Iraq War says that U.K. soldiers may face prosecution for crimes including murder.

British soldiers may face Iraq prosecutions: investigator Posted: 02 Jan 2016 03:46 AM PST British soldiers may be put on trial for alleged crimes committed in Iraq including murder, the head of a government unit investigating claims of torture and unlawful killing said in an interview published on Saturday. Mark Warwick, a former police detective who is in charge of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), was quoted as saying by The Independent newspaper that he believed there would be sufficient evidence to justify criminal charges. "There are serious allegations that we are investigating across the whole range of Ihat investigations, which incorporates homicide, where I feel there is significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority to prosecute and charge," he said.

British troops could face charges over Iraq War: probe chief Posted: 02 Jan 2016 02:30 AM PST British soldiers accused of unlawful killing and torture during the Iraq War could face prosecution, the head of an official unit probing alleged abuses said in an interview published Saturday. Former police detective Mark Warwick, who is now leading the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) set up by the Ministry of Defence, told The Independent newspaper he believed his team had gathered enough evidence to justify charges. "There are serious allegations that we are investigating across the whole range of probe investigations, which incorporates homicide, where I feel there is significant evidence to be obtained to put a strong case before the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) to prosecute and charge," he said.

Iraq MP says Nimr execution will fuel Sunni-Shi'ite strife: TV Posted: 02 Jan 2016 01:05 AM PST BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr was intended to fuel Sunni-Shi'ite strife and "set the region on fire", a lawmaker from Iraq's ruling Shi'ite coalition told al-Sumaria TV on Saturday. "This measure taken by the ruling family (of Saudi Arabia) aims at re-igniting the region, provoking sectarian fighting between Sunnis and Shi'ites," Mohammed al-Sayhud said, according to the TV station's website. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli and Stephen Kalin; Editing by Catherine Evans)

As 2016 dawns, Europe braces for more waves of migrants Posted: 01 Jan 2016 04:28 PM PST ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Bitter cold, biting winds and rough winter seas have done little to stem the seemingly endless flow of desperate people fleeing war or poverty for what they hope will be a brighter, safer future in Europe. As 2016 dawns, boatloads continue to reach Greek shores and thousands trudge across Balkan fields and country roads heading north.

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