Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi sacked the head of the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force.

IranPress/Middle East- Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in a statement on Thursday reproached the force's head Falih Alfayyadh for "having been implicated in partisan political matters which contravene the rules of neutrality which apply to members of the security and intelligence forces".

Alfayyadh, 62, was also dismissed from his position as national security advisor.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi claimed that Alfayyadh negotiated behind his back with rival Hadi al-Ameri as post-election talks were underway.

Hashed al-Shaabi was sacked by Haider al-Abadi despite the remarks of Iraqi president, Fouad Ma'soum which emphasised in Aug. 17 that prime minister Haidar al-Ebadi does not abide by US decisions or follow orders from Washington.

The Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) auxiliary force was created by the government in 2014, after a call to jihad by the spiritual leader of the Shiite community, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani to help in the fight against ISIS.

Amid the increasing political tensions in Iraq, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) stated recently that a total of 76 Iraqi civilians were killed and another 129 injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in June 2018.

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