Reuters AlertNet - IRAQ: Citizens chafe under rising unemployment

Reuters AlertNet - IRAQ: Citizens chafe under rising unemployment:

"According to Mohamed Taha al-Mousawi, an adviser at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the national unemployment rate surpassed 60 percent last year. 'And the rate rose further in the first quarter of this year, as many policemen and army members quit their jobs due to threats by militants groups,' al-Mousawi said. He added that his ministry had no plans to promote employment until the security situation had improved.

Iraq's high unemployment rate was also recently acknowledged by the First Lady. Speaking at an international conference devoted to women in business in London on 23 May, the wife of President Jalal Talabani stressed that high unemployment levels made disaffected youths easy targets for recruitment by extremists."