Nujaba: Neglectful govt., parliament responsible for fatal Baghdad blast

A prominent Iraqi resistance group says the country’s government and parliament bear responsibility, through neglectful performance, for the terrorist attack that struck the capital Baghdad earlier, killing dozens of people.

According to Press TV, the al-Nujaba Islamic Resistance Movement, in a statement released by its Communications and Media Affairs’ Office in Tehran on Tuesday, vehemently condemned the atrocity and said, “We had warned several months earlier about terrorist groups' intention to target innocent people throughout holy cities and populous areas.”

“Our warnings, however, fell on deaf ears,” the movement said.

A day earlier, a terrorist bomber martyred at least 35 people and wounded over 60 others in the crowded market in the Sadr City neighborhood of Baghdad. The Takfiri Daesh terror group claimed responsibility for the terror attack.

“Unfortunately, the country has now returned to square one, despite the sacrifices [that have been made] and the numerous people, who have been martyred [towards the goal of confronting terrorism],” the statement said.

“The country is now the scene of conflict and carnage because of some people’s attempts to secure their desired positions and offices,” said the group.

The group said it would not allow innocent blood to be spilled as such “weak-kneed and sick” officials are engaged in promoting their careers.

Nujaba denounced the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi for the shortcomings that paved the way for the tragedy.

It, however, said the parliament faced a larger share of the blame for failing to properly preside over the government and the manner in which it was performing its duties.

Neither the Iraqi people nor the resistance would remain silent in the face of such inaction and omission, the statement concluded.

Nujaba forms part of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashd al-Sha’abi, an umbrella anti-terror organization.

The organization began contributing hugely and effectively to the Iraqi army’s counter-terrorism efforts in 2014, when the country found itself at the mercy of Daesh.

No earlier than on Sunday, Iraqi forces were reported to have shot down a drone flown by Daesh against a police headquarters in the country’s west. The forces also destroyed four of the Takfiri group’s strongholds in the north.

SS