Tunisia fears impact of Libyan refugees on subsidies system

Tunis, Asharq Al-Awsat—The influx of Libyan refugees is putting pressure on Tunisia’s already strained subsidies system, Tunisian officials have warned, as the number of refugees in Tunisia from the neighboring north African country approaches 2 million since 2011, according to government estimates. Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi said recently that the country would have “great difficulty” in hosting more refugees, adding that “the economic situation in Tunisia is not suitable f...

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Iraq: Maliki accused of threatening Shi’a alliance break-up

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraq’s most senior Shi’ite cleric called on the country’s politicians to form a national unity government on Friday, as fears grew of cracks in the Shi’ite-led National Alliance, the largest parliamentary bloc in the country, over the weekend. The call from Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani was issued by one of his representatives, Ahmed Al-Safi, during a Friday sermon. It comes as Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki continues unsuccessfully to secure a third ter...

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