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