BAGHDAD, Dec 5: Former Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi on Monday stood by a claim that he was nearly assassinated in a mosque in Najaf and suggested unidentified foreigners may have been involved. Mr Allawi said that in Sunday’s attack men in and around the Imam Ali shrine had been armed with guns and long knives. He fled the mosque when an angry crowd pelted him with rocks, tomatoes and shoes. “I got hit with a stone here,” said Iyad Allawi, pointing to a small mark on the right side of his chin. “I think they aimed the stone at my upper head in an attempt to knock me down.”—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...