Saturday, March 31, 2007
Justice Minister resigns
Politics
(AP) - Iraq's justice minister said Saturday that he had offered his resignation, citing unspecified differences with the government and his own political group. Justice Minister Hashim al-Shebli, a Sunni Arab member of the secular Iraqi List, said he had presented his resignation to the Cabinet on Thursday but was still waiting for its approval of the decision.
"I have differences with the government on one side and with the my parliamentary bloc on another," al-Shebli told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. He did not elaborate on the differences, but al-Shebli has been involved in a dispute over the Cabinet's recent endorsement of a decision to relocate and compensate thousands of Arabs who moved to the oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk during "Arabisation" campaign in 1980s. The Iraqi List and several Sunni lawmakers have objected to the decision, saying it fails to address key issues, including property claims.
Al-Shebli said he was still acting as justice minister while awaiting the Cabinet's response. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, could not immediately be reached for comment. Government adviser Sami al-Askari said he had no information about the resignation. The Iraqi List, which is led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, holds 25 seats in the 275-seat parliament.
"I have differences with the government on one side and with the my parliamentary bloc on another," al-Shebli told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. He did not elaborate on the differences, but al-Shebli has been involved in a dispute over the Cabinet's recent endorsement of a decision to relocate and compensate thousands of Arabs who moved to the oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk during "Arabisation" campaign in 1980s. The Iraqi List and several Sunni lawmakers have objected to the decision, saying it fails to address key issues, including property claims.
Al-Shebli said he was still acting as justice minister while awaiting the Cabinet's response. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, could not immediately be reached for comment. Government adviser Sami al-Askari said he had no information about the resignation. The Iraqi List, which is led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, holds 25 seats in the 275-seat parliament.
Labels: Hashim al-Shebli, Iraq's justice minister, Iraqi National List
