ERBIL — Iraq’s Health Minister Alaa al-Alwan announced his official resignation on Sunday after alleged political pressure and defamatory attempts against him.

According to the Ministry of Health, Alwan handed in his resignation to Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi for the second time on 12 September.

His first resignation in March was rejected by PM Abdul-Mahdi. Back then, he cited “excessive pressure” as the reason for his resignation.

“Sadly, we are still exposed to a wide spectrum of... blackmail and misinformation in order to offend and distort the facts. This has reached a level that hinders the work of the ministry and undermines the chances of success of its programs for reform,” Kurdistan 24 quoted a letter by Alwan.

“I deeply regret reaching the firm conviction that we cannot continue to work under these circumstances,” he continued, stressing that, this time, his resignation was irreversible.

BasNews