SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The governor of Najaf province resigned on Friday, one day after another governor quit following demonstrations against living conditions and corruption.
Governor Louai al-Yasseri announced at a press conference that he was leaving his post in the holy Shia city, according to state news agency INA.
“Today, I present my resignation from my position before the prime minister,” Yasseri said, noting that he was not subjected to any pressure from any political party.
His resignation follows harsh criticism from prominent Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr.
Sadr paid a public visit to the municipality in Najaf on Wednesday after “reports of corruption and shortcomings in this institution”, according to AFP.
“We will work on dismissing the governor of Najaf and replacing him legally,” AFP quoted him as saying.
On Friday, Sadr welcomed the governor’s resignation as a “step in the right direction”.
In the past weeks, sporadic demonstrations have broken out across Najaf and the neighboring province of Diwaniya, as well as in Nasiriyah.
The governor of Dhi Qar province also resigned on Thursday following violent suppression of protesters. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi approved his resignation.
Protests erupted in al-Nasiriyah city in Dhi Qar on Wednesday. Security forces shot three protesters, a medical source told AFP.
