Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi warned that his reform plan is under threat from those who benefit from the old system. Still, he dismissed his Cabinet on Wednesday as a first step in fulfilling the promises of the plan. He also said he would seek a mandate from the people to change the Iraqi constitution. He described the current constitution as having been written hastily and containing many mistakes. Meanwhile, 66 corruption cases have been opened against a number of officials, current and former.
Outgoing U.S. Army chief, General Raymond Odierno, does not expect reconciliation between Sunnis and Shi’ites to be realized and believes the country may need to be split. He also said at a news conference, that U.S. troops could be needed on the ground in Iraq eventually. However, he admits that greater U.S. involvement will not solve Iraq’s political problems.
At least 74 people were killed and 15 were wounded:
In Makhmour, several Peshmerga were burned in a mortar attack believed to contain chemical weapons.
A number of roadside bombs outside Ramadi left 14 soldiers dead and 10 wounded.
In Latifiya, gunmen killed two soldiers and wounded a third. One civilian was killed and four more were wounded in a blast.
Gunmen killed a farmer and a security member near Baquba.
In Mosul, 30 militants were killed.
Airstrikes killed 16 militants in Ba’shiqah.
Nine militants were killed in Qayara.
Many militants were killed in Albu Faraj.
