BABIL'S DA'WA LEADERS UNDER THREAT WHILE AWAITING WORD FROM

S E C R E T HILLAH 000014 E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/14/2019 TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS IZ SUBJECT: BABIL'S DA'WA LEADERS UNDER THREAT WHILE AWAITING WORD FROM BAGHDAD ON POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS CLASSIFIED BY: Kenneth Hillas, Team Leader, Babil PRT, Dept of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(c) ¶1. (S) Babil Da'wa party leader Abu Ahmed Al-Basri and his deputy, Dr. Neama Jassim, the outgoing Provincial Council Deputy Chairman, are under threat of assassination from Special Groups that have recently slipped into Iraq from Iran to carry out targeted assassinations, according to Dr. Jassim. He said that Iraqi Security Forces have beefed up protection for Al-Basri, who has cut back his scheduled events on advice from Baghdad party and ISF officials. Dr. Jassim said he was instructed almost one week ago to leave Babil Province for his own safety, hinting that he is hiding in Baghdad. ¶2. (C) Meanwhile, Da'wa officials in Babil are awaiting the results of ongoing negotiations in Baghdad among party leaders over the distribution of provincial positions, such as Governor and Provincial Council Chairman (PCC). These discussions involve, in varying combinations, Da'wa, ISCI, and Sadrist Trend leaders, among others, according to Dr. Jassim and Al-Basri. Both officials made clear that the decision on a Babil Governor -- for which Al-Basri is considered a leading candidate -- and a PCC will be made by Da'wa national leaders as part of a larger bargaining equation involving these other parties, and not between party leaders in the province, who are awaiting word from Baghdad. HILLAS