UAE, Qatar agree to waive $7 billion in Iraqi debt

[unixronin]

Clicky.  Iraq is estimated to owe a total of $120 billion, $30 billion of it to Saudi Arabia and $15 billion to other Persian Gulf nations.  Meanwhile, Iraqis are protesting against the US handover plan, which calls for selection of representatives who will elect the new transitional government.  The Iraqis, being fairly smart types, don't WANT US-picked representatives to vote for them; they want direct elections.