The Iraqi capital has regained its calm: no mortar shell fire, no bursts of automatic weapons. The previous night had been marked by violent clashes between rival militias after the announcement of the definitive withdrawal of Moqtada al-Sadr from political life in the midst of a standoff over the formation of the government. Eventually, the popular religious leader called on his followers to return home, and fighting ceased in Baghdad as elsewhere.
With our special envoys in Iraq, Bertrand Haeckler and Guilhem Delteil
The amusement park is located on the banks of the Shatt al-Arab, the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates, in Basra. A Ferris wheel, bumper cars, rides; so much entertainment that delights the two children of Zaïd Tarek. ” Of course, they are happy to go out and play. They wanted to come yesterday [lundi] evening but we heard the shots. And then they put in a 6 a.m. curfew “, he reports.
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For this father, this Tuesday evening’s outing was a catch-up session. But many Bassraoui preferred to stay at home. Boats offer tours on the Shatt al-Arab but customers are scarce. And the park is also unusually empty, testifies Ali Salman, a young employee of the place. ” The amusement park is 30 years old. On a usual day, when the activity is normal, there are many families. Normally we host 2,000 people, he specifies. Today, there are just ten or five people due to the current unstable situation. »
In Basra, fighting also broke out overnight from Monday to Tuesday.
Incomprehension
The fear is still felt. Especially since it is tinged with misunderstanding. Hicham Yaber is 52 years old. He now lives in Sweden and came to visit his family. ” Since I was 8 years old and until today, no one has been able to explain to me what is happening, he laments. We have always had wars. I immigrated. And when I come back, it’s always war. It’s the same thing, there is no improvement. »
On the streets of the city, many shops had kept the curtains down despite the lifting of the curfew; traders also played it safe.