Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Al-Maliki is againts the IAF's plan of changing the Defense Minister
Politics, Security
(Voices of Iraq) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki views that changing Defense Minister Abdul-Qader al-Ubaidi upon the wish of the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) will "affect the course of the security plan," said Sami al-Aaskari, a Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) member of parliament, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on Sunday.
The IAF "has not so far come up with alternatives for its ministers (in the Maliki government)," said Aaskari. Maliki had earlier on Sunday said the expected cabinet reshuffle will take place this week or next week. The IAF occupies three portfolios in the current Iraqi government and was assigned to name a defense minister, Ubaidi.
On the number of ministries to be included in the reshuffle, Aaskari said that the change will involve 10 ministries, including six belonging to the UIC, two to the Iraqi National Slate and two to the IAF. The Iraqi parliament member did not, however, name those ministries but said the UIC "has already named the new nominees." Aaskari said "ministers will be chosen this time from technocratic circles and experience and efficiency would be taken into consideration."
The IAF "has not so far come up with alternatives for its ministers (in the Maliki government)," said Aaskari. Maliki had earlier on Sunday said the expected cabinet reshuffle will take place this week or next week. The IAF occupies three portfolios in the current Iraqi government and was assigned to name a defense minister, Ubaidi.
On the number of ministries to be included in the reshuffle, Aaskari said that the change will involve 10 ministries, including six belonging to the UIC, two to the Iraqi National Slate and two to the IAF. The Iraqi parliament member did not, however, name those ministries but said the UIC "has already named the new nominees." Aaskari said "ministers will be chosen this time from technocratic circles and experience and efficiency would be taken into consideration."
COMMENT: Iyad Allawi (secular Shia) has been in talks with Kurdish leaders to form a new front. This could lead to the destabilisation of al-Maliki and a decrease in Shia political power. The IAF supports Allawi's concept if there is a redistribution of official appointments and the security ministries, as well as freezing of the constitution and dissolving of parliament. If their requirements are not met they have threatened to walk away. The IAF describes their concepts as a 'B' plan should the Baghdad Security Conference - scheduled for next week - fail. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Abdul-Qader al-Ubaidi, al-Maliki, Defense Minister, Iraqi Accord Front, Sami al-Aaskari
