LOC10:38
07:38 GMT
BAGHDAD, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Government has shut its departments for
three consecutive days due to torrential rain and floods that caused
wide-scale damage across the nation.
Civil servants were given three days off from Tuesday to Thursday after the
heavy rains caused floods, swamping streets and whole neighborhoods in the
capital, other cities and several regions.
Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, in a statement on Thursday, urged
municipalities to work rapidly and unblock sewers noting that they have
sufficient funds to deal with such emergencies. He urged politicians to
abstain from using this problem to score some political points against the
government.
Meanwhile, the head of Al-Anbar's local council, Sabah Karhoot, said the
raging waters isolated several towns and caused closure of some roads across
the governorate.
Local authorities in several towns have declared personnel alert to deal
with the problems caused by the hard weather and police reported that scores
of poorly-built houses have been washed away. (end)
ah.rk
KUNA 211038 Nov 13NNNN