Iraq: Parliament adopts resolution calling for expulsion of foreign troops

SOT, Hasan al-Aqabi, Member of parliament (Arabic): "The situation nowadays in Iraq is indeed difficult and intense to the extreme possible level. This is an extraordinary situation that is not comparable to any other situation. When should the parliament conduct a session, to handle these challenges and find solutions to this crisis, if not now?" *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Hasan al-Aqabi, Member of parliament (Arabic): "We are present here at the Parliament to complete quorum and to have a unified patriotic stand regarding these blatant violations of the American troops." *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Hasan al-Aqabi, Member of parliament (Arabic): "Obviously some parliament blocks are absent, such as the majority of the Kurdish forces, in addition to some other blocks." *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Hasan al-Aqabi, Member of parliament (Arabic): "The Shiite coalitions, so to speak, are present." *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Hasan al-Aqabi, Member of parliament (Arabic): "The Iraqi government should have a firm and decisive stand. The parliament will support the government regarding the problem of having a foreign presence especially the American military presence." *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Hasan al-Aqabi, Member of parliament (Arabic): "The Iraqi forces are capable of handling the security challenges." *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Hasan Salim, Member of parliament (Arabic): "It is a great day in Iraq's history, as the country's sovereignty was demonstrated by putting an end to the foreign presence in Iraq, especially the American one. Today is a day of victory for the blood of the martyred commanders, the Iraqi people and the fighters of the Popular Mobilisation Forces."
SOT, Mohammed Shia Alsudani, Member of parliament (Arabic): "Today's resolution is one of patriotic importance, it represents a victory for the blood of the martyrs who were killed by the American raid, which violated the international conventions and represented a blatant breach of Iraq's security, dignity, and sovereignty." *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Mohammed Shia Alsudani, Member of parliament (Arabic): "The resolution obliges the government to put an end to the presence of foreign troops which were formed in the context of creating the international coalition to fight ISIS in 2014. Moreover, it is obliged to control the position of weapons and to limit it to the security institution, in response to concerns of some parties. In addition to that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should file a complaint against the USA to the United Nations because of the recent American assault." *JUMPCUT AT SOURCE*
SOT, Mohammed Shia Alsudani, Member of parliament (Arabic): "This resolution is so important because it protects Iraq from the potential influence which might affect the national security and allow external interventions."
SOT, Ahmed Alasadi, Speaker of al-Fateh block (Arabic): "We will follow up in the next sessions with the steps of putting an end to the security agreement [with the US-led coalition], closing the American embassy and preventing any blatant American intervention in the Iraqi affairs."
SCRIPT
Iraq's Parliament passed a resolution urging the government to expel the foreign troops from Iraq, in an extraordinary session held in Baghdad on Sunday.
The session was regarded of extreme importance by Hasan al-Aqabi, a member of parliament who described the situation in Iraq as "indeed difficult and intense to the extreme possible level. This is an extraordinary situation that is not comparable to any other situation."
Another member of parliament, Hasan Salim, regarded this day as "a great day in Iraq's history, as the country's sovereignty was demonstrated by putting an end to the foreign presence in Iraq, especially the American one."
The non-binding resolution asks the government to cancel the request for military assistance from the US-led coalition and other foreign troops on Iraqi territory.
The resolution was adopted after a US airstrike on Baghdad killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani as well as Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.