Monday, July 09, 2007
Iraqi Sadrists to come up with ‘reconciliation initiative'
Politics
(Azzaman) - The movement led by Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says it intends to present a new reconciliation plan to end the current political stalemate.
Differences between Iraqi political factions with representatives in the parliament have aggravated recently mainly due to the government’s passage of a controversial oil law under which foreign firms will be given the right to exploit and administer Iraqi oil fields. The law also gives a big say for Iraqi regions and governorates in oil exploration, output and export.
Sunni Scholars have issued a decree branding anyone accepting the law a traitor and Sunni members of parliament, who have already boycotted its sessions, have vowed to resist the law. The Sadr movement had withdrawn its 30 deputies but, according to Bahaa al-Aaraji, a senior Sadr aide, the deputies have decided to rejoin with the specific aim of defeating the passage of the law.
Aaraji said the movement’s leader would announce the initiative which he described as a ‘new national reconciliation plan.’ Araji gave no details of the move but Sadr had previously made such initiatives which never saw light. The movement, though opposing U.S. occupation and critical of the current government, is accused of fomenting sectarian strife and operating its own ‘death squads’.
Differences between Iraqi political factions with representatives in the parliament have aggravated recently mainly due to the government’s passage of a controversial oil law under which foreign firms will be given the right to exploit and administer Iraqi oil fields. The law also gives a big say for Iraqi regions and governorates in oil exploration, output and export.
Sunni Scholars have issued a decree branding anyone accepting the law a traitor and Sunni members of parliament, who have already boycotted its sessions, have vowed to resist the law. The Sadr movement had withdrawn its 30 deputies but, according to Bahaa al-Aaraji, a senior Sadr aide, the deputies have decided to rejoin with the specific aim of defeating the passage of the law.
Aaraji said the movement’s leader would announce the initiative which he described as a ‘new national reconciliation plan.’ Araji gave no details of the move but Sadr had previously made such initiatives which never saw light. The movement, though opposing U.S. occupation and critical of the current government, is accused of fomenting sectarian strife and operating its own ‘death squads’.
Labels: Bahaa al-Aaraji, draft oil law, Moqtada Al-Sadr
