Monday, October 08, 2007
Footballer sworn in by Iraqi Accordance Front
Politics
(Gulf News) - One of Iraq's most famous football stars was sworn in on Monday to replace a lawmaker-turned-insurgent in the largest Sunni parliament block. Ahmed Radhi, the only Iraqi player to have scored in World Cup finals, officially took the Sunni Accordance Front seat vacated by Abdul Nasser Al Janabi. Janabi had declared in June that he would leave politics to join the insurgency in Iraq.
The bloc had nominated 43-year-old Radhi last week, to "support the youth and sport in Iraq," said the Sunni bloc's spokesman, Muhanad Al Issawi. "I will join the Sport and Youth Committee in parliament, beside my political activities as lawmaker," Radhi said after his swearing-in.
Radhi was Iraq's most famous forward in mid 1980s and scored the only World Cup goal for Iraq ever in a game against Belgium in the 1986 tournament in Mexico. After the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussain, he became the manager of Al Zawra soccer club in the Iraqi premiere league. He left the job and moved to Amman, Jordan, after receiving threats and after the kidnapping of Ahmed Al Hijiya, the chairman of Iraq's National Olympic committee.
The bloc had nominated 43-year-old Radhi last week, to "support the youth and sport in Iraq," said the Sunni bloc's spokesman, Muhanad Al Issawi. "I will join the Sport and Youth Committee in parliament, beside my political activities as lawmaker," Radhi said after his swearing-in.
Radhi was Iraq's most famous forward in mid 1980s and scored the only World Cup goal for Iraq ever in a game against Belgium in the 1986 tournament in Mexico. After the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussain, he became the manager of Al Zawra soccer club in the Iraqi premiere league. He left the job and moved to Amman, Jordan, after receiving threats and after the kidnapping of Ahmed Al Hijiya, the chairman of Iraq's National Olympic committee.
Labels: Abdul Nasser Al Janabi, Ahmed Radhi, Al Zawra soccer club, Iraqi Accordance Front
Friday, October 05, 2007
Parliament sacks MP for joining resistance
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi parliament on Thursday decided after marathonic debate to sack the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front legislator Abdul Nasser al-Jenabi for he "joined the armed resistance and expressed regret to take part in the political process." The House of the Representatives decided in Thursday's session to sack MP Abdul Nasser al-Jenabi, and ordered that the Sunni Accordance Front, to which Janabi was a member, shall nominate a replacement.
Earlier, Accordance Front demanded to agree to consider al-Janabi as resigned, leading parliament's session to witness a controversy on the legal position of MP Abdul Nasser al-Jenabi following his decision to join the armed resistance. "Member of Parliament Abdul Nasser al-Jenabi did not present his resignation, and his bloc presented a demand, in which it urged to consider him as a resigned member. This demand is illegal and parliament cannot approve it," Sheikh Khaled al-Attiya said.
"Al-Jenabi had to present an official demand with his resignation," he explained. Following a lengthy and hot debate over al-Jenabi's statement and his legal position as a legislator, al-Attiya said, "it seems there are differences on that subject, but al-Jenabi told media that he regretted having participated in the political process and he will join armed resistance, but did not present an official demand to resign from parliament."
The first deputy speaker decided to postpone the whole matter, but the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition members rejected to put off the issue and pressed to take a decision against al-Jenabi. The session chairman then decided to sack al-Jenabi and asked IAF to nominate a replacement. Al-Jenabi is a member of the National Dialogue Council, one of the three Sunni components that form the IAF. The council is headed by Sheikh Khalaf al-Eliyan.
Earlier, Accordance Front demanded to agree to consider al-Janabi as resigned, leading parliament's session to witness a controversy on the legal position of MP Abdul Nasser al-Jenabi following his decision to join the armed resistance. "Member of Parliament Abdul Nasser al-Jenabi did not present his resignation, and his bloc presented a demand, in which it urged to consider him as a resigned member. This demand is illegal and parliament cannot approve it," Sheikh Khaled al-Attiya said.
"Al-Jenabi had to present an official demand with his resignation," he explained. Following a lengthy and hot debate over al-Jenabi's statement and his legal position as a legislator, al-Attiya said, "it seems there are differences on that subject, but al-Jenabi told media that he regretted having participated in the political process and he will join armed resistance, but did not present an official demand to resign from parliament."
The first deputy speaker decided to postpone the whole matter, but the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition members rejected to put off the issue and pressed to take a decision against al-Jenabi. The session chairman then decided to sack al-Jenabi and asked IAF to nominate a replacement. Al-Jenabi is a member of the National Dialogue Council, one of the three Sunni components that form the IAF. The council is headed by Sheikh Khalaf al-Eliyan.
Labels: Abdul Nasser al-Jenabi, Iraqi Accordance Front
Monday, September 17, 2007
Furtehr conflict expected between the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - More conflicts are expected to arise within the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC), the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) and the Kurdistan Coalition (KC), the leader of the secular National Dialogue Front (NDF), Saleh al-Motlaq, said on Sunday, describing the three blocs as "sectarian." Such divisions will be used to withdraw confidence from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government, al-Motlaq added.
"Those who seek to set up a national salvation front will benefit from al-Sadr movement's withdrawal from the Shiite coalition and call for a vote of no confidence against al-Maliki's government," al-Motlaq told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by phone. The statements come following the withdrawal of the Sadrist bloc from the Shiite coalition and the defection of the planning minister Ali Baban from the IAF two days ago.
Denying any intention to form an opposition front to what he described as the Shiite-Kurdish bloc, al-Motlaq said, "We want to set up a national salvation front, not an opposition front." The Shiite Daawa Islamic Party, the Shiite Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), and the two main Kurdish parties formed a four-way alliance in mid-August that they said aims at backing the current Iraqi government following the withdrawal of some political blocs from the cabinet.
Describing the withdrawal of some political blocs from the Shiite coalition as a "national awakening," al-Motlaq claimed that the formation of "sectarian blocs" will plunge the country into an abyss of violence. The NDF holds 11 seats in the 275-member parliament.
"Those who seek to set up a national salvation front will benefit from al-Sadr movement's withdrawal from the Shiite coalition and call for a vote of no confidence against al-Maliki's government," al-Motlaq told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by phone. The statements come following the withdrawal of the Sadrist bloc from the Shiite coalition and the defection of the planning minister Ali Baban from the IAF two days ago.
Denying any intention to form an opposition front to what he described as the Shiite-Kurdish bloc, al-Motlaq said, "We want to set up a national salvation front, not an opposition front." The Shiite Daawa Islamic Party, the Shiite Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), and the two main Kurdish parties formed a four-way alliance in mid-August that they said aims at backing the current Iraqi government following the withdrawal of some political blocs from the cabinet.
Describing the withdrawal of some political blocs from the Shiite coalition as a "national awakening," al-Motlaq claimed that the formation of "sectarian blocs" will plunge the country into an abyss of violence. The NDF holds 11 seats in the 275-member parliament.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Kurdistan Coalition, National Dialogue Front, Saleh al-Motlaq, United Iraqi Coalition
Thursday, September 13, 2007
IAF deny return of minister to government
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi's office denied on Wednesday that Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban decided to return to the government, describing media reports on that as "misinterpretation of Baban's statements." "Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi received on Wednesday morning the resigned minister Ali Baban at his office in Baghdad," Hashemi's office said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The statement added "minister Baban clarified the truth and objectives about his stand that was reported by media on his return to the government, saying that some regrettably politicized his stand and mistakenly misinterpreted it as a rebellion on the Iraqi Accordance Front's decision to quit Maliki's government."
Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban on Tuesday unveiled that he decided to return to the government after a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, adding "my decision came in favor of serving the public good" after he was entrusted with carrying out "important investment projects."
Baban stressed during his meeting with Hashemi his "commitment to IAF's decision to quit the cabinet and that he neither intends to return to the government nor violates his obligation towards IAF of which he is a member," VP's office said. The statement added "the issue was settled and the misunderstanding was clarified."
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Sunni Accordance Front said that IAF is no longer part of Maliki's government even "if all ministers returned to cabinet."
The statement added "minister Baban clarified the truth and objectives about his stand that was reported by media on his return to the government, saying that some regrettably politicized his stand and mistakenly misinterpreted it as a rebellion on the Iraqi Accordance Front's decision to quit Maliki's government."
Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban on Tuesday unveiled that he decided to return to the government after a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, adding "my decision came in favor of serving the public good" after he was entrusted with carrying out "important investment projects."
Baban stressed during his meeting with Hashemi his "commitment to IAF's decision to quit the cabinet and that he neither intends to return to the government nor violates his obligation towards IAF of which he is a member," VP's office said. The statement added "the issue was settled and the misunderstanding was clarified."
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Sunni Accordance Front said that IAF is no longer part of Maliki's government even "if all ministers returned to cabinet."
Labels: Ali Baban, Iraqi Accordance Front, Tariq al-Hashemi
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Iraqi Accordance Front MP returns after boycott
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi Minister of Planning and Development Cooperation Ali Baban decided to return to the government and end his boycott, a source from the Iraqi cabinet said on Tuesday. "Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hailed Baban's decision and appreciated his "courageous step" to return to undertake his job for the good of the Iraqi people," the source, whole asked not to be named, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The source did not give further details on the minister's surprising decision. Baban is a member of the Sunni Arab-majority Iraqi Islamic Party, headed by Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. The party is one of the main Sunni components of the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF). The IAF, the third largest bloc in Iraqi parliament with 44 out of a total 275 seats, had announced last month that its five ministers and deputy premier, Sallam al-Zawbaie, have quit the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki because "the government slammed the door shut to any reforms that would help rescue Iraq."
The IAF is composed of three main Sunni political organizations: the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Congress of the People of Iraq and the National Dialogue Council. Baban himself had threatened to withdraw from the government before his bloc's decision last month if the oil and gas law approved without making "fundamental amendments". He asserted that the law has "negative effects" on Iraqi oil wealth, calling for holding a referendum on that law.
The source did not give further details on the minister's surprising decision. Baban is a member of the Sunni Arab-majority Iraqi Islamic Party, headed by Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi. The party is one of the main Sunni components of the Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF). The IAF, the third largest bloc in Iraqi parliament with 44 out of a total 275 seats, had announced last month that its five ministers and deputy premier, Sallam al-Zawbaie, have quit the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki because "the government slammed the door shut to any reforms that would help rescue Iraq."
The IAF is composed of three main Sunni political organizations: the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Congress of the People of Iraq and the National Dialogue Council. Baban himself had threatened to withdraw from the government before his bloc's decision last month if the oil and gas law approved without making "fundamental amendments". He asserted that the law has "negative effects" on Iraqi oil wealth, calling for holding a referendum on that law.
Labels: Ali Baban, Iraqi Accordance Front
Iraqi politicians react positively to Petraeus' report
Politics
(Gulf News) - Most of the Iraqi political elite have expressed their relief at the long-awaited testimony of General David Petraeus and the American Ambassador in Baghdad Ryan Crocker to the US Congress debating Iraq's situation. Omar Abdul Sattar, a prominent leader in the Sunni Islamic Party of the Accordance Front, told Gulf News: "As for General Petraeus' testimony about the security situation in Iraq, the General managed to put the facts and he expressed them so accurately unlike Ambassador Crocker."
He added: "Americans, according to Petraeus, succeeded in the Sunni Al Anbar province and formed local leaders to fight Al Qaida and this is a significant security achievement and I think Americans will go ahead after the testimony to enhance the formation of a local leader policy to maintain security in Iraq."
The former Minster of Culture in the Kurdistan region, Sami Shorish close to Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani, told Gulf News: "Iraqi leaders, especially the Kurds, are very optimistic about the Petraeus-Crocker report unlike the Baker-Hamilton report particularly on what General Petraeus said about a significant improvement in the security situation in Baghdad and Al Anbar provinces." We were also optimistic about statements concerning the Syrian-Iranian threat (to Iraqi stability), he added.
Abu Akbar Al Saadi, a prominent leader in the Supreme Islamic Council led by Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, told Gulf News: "The report was balanced and General Petraeus was successful in determining the main factors to maintain the security situation and there are indeed security achievements on the ground, especially changing the Iraqi Sunni attitude against Al Qaida, besides Petraeus' remarks concerning Iran and Syria represent a conformist view with the Iraqi government because the neighbouring countries have an important role in sustaining security and stability in Iraq."
Notably most of Iraq's political elites are satisfied with the Petraeus testimony for two reasons, firstly his remarks about progress regarding the security situation, and secondly: his praise of the role of Iraqi security forces in addressing terrorism.
Hashim Al Hashimi, a leader in the Fadhila Party, told Gulf News: "I affirmed what General Petraeus mentioned about achieving security progress but what Ambassador Crocker said was confusing about the political situation."
Talal Al Saadi, a leader in the Shiite Sadr trend, told Gulf News: "The Petraeus-Crocker report does not mean anything to the trend. The important thing to us is to schedule the American troops' withdrawal from Iraq. As for the security situation in the Al Anbar Province, I think it is a fallacy because the Americans armed former members of Al Qaida to strike Al Qaida and this is a dangerous matter and will cause catastrophe to Iraq."
He added: "Americans, according to Petraeus, succeeded in the Sunni Al Anbar province and formed local leaders to fight Al Qaida and this is a significant security achievement and I think Americans will go ahead after the testimony to enhance the formation of a local leader policy to maintain security in Iraq."
The former Minster of Culture in the Kurdistan region, Sami Shorish close to Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani, told Gulf News: "Iraqi leaders, especially the Kurds, are very optimistic about the Petraeus-Crocker report unlike the Baker-Hamilton report particularly on what General Petraeus said about a significant improvement in the security situation in Baghdad and Al Anbar provinces." We were also optimistic about statements concerning the Syrian-Iranian threat (to Iraqi stability), he added.
Abu Akbar Al Saadi, a prominent leader in the Supreme Islamic Council led by Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, told Gulf News: "The report was balanced and General Petraeus was successful in determining the main factors to maintain the security situation and there are indeed security achievements on the ground, especially changing the Iraqi Sunni attitude against Al Qaida, besides Petraeus' remarks concerning Iran and Syria represent a conformist view with the Iraqi government because the neighbouring countries have an important role in sustaining security and stability in Iraq."
Notably most of Iraq's political elites are satisfied with the Petraeus testimony for two reasons, firstly his remarks about progress regarding the security situation, and secondly: his praise of the role of Iraqi security forces in addressing terrorism.
Hashim Al Hashimi, a leader in the Fadhila Party, told Gulf News: "I affirmed what General Petraeus mentioned about achieving security progress but what Ambassador Crocker said was confusing about the political situation."
Talal Al Saadi, a leader in the Shiite Sadr trend, told Gulf News: "The Petraeus-Crocker report does not mean anything to the trend. The important thing to us is to schedule the American troops' withdrawal from Iraq. As for the security situation in the Al Anbar Province, I think it is a fallacy because the Americans armed former members of Al Qaida to strike Al Qaida and this is a dangerous matter and will cause catastrophe to Iraq."
Labels: Abu Akbar Al Saadi, Fadhela party, General David Petraeus, Hashim Al Hashimi, Iraqi Accordance Front, Omar Abdul Sattar, Ryan Crocker, Sadr bloc, Sami Shorish, SIIC, Talal Al Saadi
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Leading Iraqi Accordance Front member welcomes al-Sadr's move to suspend Mahdi Army
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - A leading figure from the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) welcomed on Wednesday the order by the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to suspend the activities of the Mahdi army, describing the recent incidents in Karbala as "disastrous". "We welcome this decision which should have been taken by the government in a move to disband all kinds of militias," Omar Abdul Sattar told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The IAF leading figure also described the clashes that took place in Karbala, 108 km southwest of Baghdad, as "disastrous", noting that "we have warned from the very beginning against the disasters that might take place because of presence of these militias. The government has started more seriously considering the issue of militias following the recent meeting of the political blocs' leaders and Karbala incidents," the Accordance member said.
The IAF leading figure also described the clashes that took place in Karbala, 108 km southwest of Baghdad, as "disastrous", noting that "we have warned from the very beginning against the disasters that might take place because of presence of these militias. The government has started more seriously considering the issue of militias following the recent meeting of the political blocs' leaders and Karbala incidents," the Accordance member said.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr decided to freeze al-Mahdi army militia and to restructure its fighters, calling for "an impartial and just investigation" into Karbala incidents where 42 Iraqis were killed and 282 more wounded in clashes near two shrines sacred to Shiite Muslims.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Karbala, Mahdi Army, militias, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Omar Abdul Sattar
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunni politicians have doubts on political deal
Politics
(Al Jazeera) - Iraq's Sunni politicians have expressed doubt that the US-backed prime minister will deliver on goals set down in an agreement hammered out by the country's top leaders over the weekend. Under intense US pressure, Nuri al-Maliki and four other senior leaders declared on Sunday that they had reached a consensus on a number of issues. These included freeing detainees held without charge, easing the ban on former Saddam Hussein supporters in government posts, regulating the oil industry and holding provincial elections. No details were released, and most measures require parliamentary approval.
Some key Sunni figures on Monday dismissed the agreement as a stalling tactic by al-Maliki to ease pressure from Washington. "Our position is that this meeting represents a new phase of procrastination and does not honestly aim at solving the problems quickly," Khalaf al-Ilyan, a leader of the Sunni bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front, said. "I think that no real or practical solution will come out of this."
Another Front leader, Adnan al-Dulaimi, said the accord included "good decisions that would serve the whole Iraqi people". "But we doubt that they will be implemented," he said. "All our experience with al-Maliki indicates that this is another new set of delaying measures. They give you a glimmer of hope, but at the end of the day you get nothing but promises."
Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, has expressed frustration over the lack of movement towards political reconciliation among the Shia, Sunni and Kurdish factions, but called Sunday's accord an "important step forward for political progress, national reconciliation and development". He attended Sunday's meeting with al-Maliki along with Adil Abdul-Mahdi, the Shia vice-president, Tariq al-Hashemi, the Sunni Arab vice-president, Massoud Barzani the head of the northern autonomous Kurdish region and President Jalal Talabani, who is also a Kurd.
But the deal did not convince the main Sunni Arab political bloc to take back the government posts they abandoned this month over differences with al-Maliki, a Shia. The Sunni walkout has paralysed the government ahead of a crucial report to the US congress by Crocker and General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq. In a step towards implementing the deal, US and Iraqi officials announced on Monday that US-led forces would increase the number of detainees released during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, which begins in September. They did not say how many would be freed.
Some key Sunni figures on Monday dismissed the agreement as a stalling tactic by al-Maliki to ease pressure from Washington. "Our position is that this meeting represents a new phase of procrastination and does not honestly aim at solving the problems quickly," Khalaf al-Ilyan, a leader of the Sunni bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front, said. "I think that no real or practical solution will come out of this."
Another Front leader, Adnan al-Dulaimi, said the accord included "good decisions that would serve the whole Iraqi people". "But we doubt that they will be implemented," he said. "All our experience with al-Maliki indicates that this is another new set of delaying measures. They give you a glimmer of hope, but at the end of the day you get nothing but promises."
Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, has expressed frustration over the lack of movement towards political reconciliation among the Shia, Sunni and Kurdish factions, but called Sunday's accord an "important step forward for political progress, national reconciliation and development". He attended Sunday's meeting with al-Maliki along with Adil Abdul-Mahdi, the Shia vice-president, Tariq al-Hashemi, the Sunni Arab vice-president, Massoud Barzani the head of the northern autonomous Kurdish region and President Jalal Talabani, who is also a Kurd.
But the deal did not convince the main Sunni Arab political bloc to take back the government posts they abandoned this month over differences with al-Maliki, a Shia. The Sunni walkout has paralysed the government ahead of a crucial report to the US congress by Crocker and General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq. In a step towards implementing the deal, US and Iraqi officials announced on Monday that US-led forces would increase the number of detainees released during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, which begins in September. They did not say how many would be freed.
Labels: Adnan al-Dulaimi, Iraqi Accordance Front, Khalaf al-Ilyan, Nouri Al-Maliki, politics
Friday, August 24, 2007
Accordance Front accuses Iraqi Army of threats
Security, Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - The Sunni Accordance Front said on Thursday that an Iraqi army force raided the office of the front's head Dr. Adnan al-Dulaimi, threatening to kill him along with bodyguards. "A force from the governmental Guards, 6th Division, 5th Brigade, 3rd battalion, raided the office of Dr. Adnan al-Dulaimi on Wednesday evening and threatened to kill the office guards," the Accordance Front said in a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The statement added "the force commander threatened to kill the office guards, blow up the building, and behead Adnan al-Dulaimi." Adnan al-Dulaimi is the head of the Sunni Accordance Front which holds 44 parliamentary seats out of 275. Dulaimi's office is located in al-Adl neighborhood in western Baghdad.
"It is not the first time the force commander along with his troops commits acts of such a kind for they tried some time ago to assassinate al-Dulaimi when they shot at his motorcade," the statement claimed. The statement held the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki responsible for the safety of al-Dulaimi and his office, house and bodyguards. No comment was so far made by the Iraqi army on the Front's claims.
The statement added "the force commander threatened to kill the office guards, blow up the building, and behead Adnan al-Dulaimi." Adnan al-Dulaimi is the head of the Sunni Accordance Front which holds 44 parliamentary seats out of 275. Dulaimi's office is located in al-Adl neighborhood in western Baghdad.
"It is not the first time the force commander along with his troops commits acts of such a kind for they tried some time ago to assassinate al-Dulaimi when they shot at his motorcade," the statement claimed. The statement held the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki responsible for the safety of al-Dulaimi and his office, house and bodyguards. No comment was so far made by the Iraqi army on the Front's claims.
Labels: al-Adl, Dr. Adnan al-Dulaimi, governmental Guards, Iraqi Accordance Front
Monday, August 20, 2007
Kurdish-Shia political alliance meet with Sunni leader
Politics
(CNN) -- The leaders of a new Shiite and Kurdish political alliance met with a top Sunni Arab leader Saturday, raising hope for a breakthrough to curb factional violence in Iraq. Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni and one of Iraq's two vice presidents, met with the other leaders ahead of a political summit that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has been planning.
The meeting started in the late afternoon and lasted for a few hours, and it may resume on Sunday, al-Maliki's office said. Al-Hashimi's office said they agreed on the summit's agenda and who will attend, as well as some similar issues. Al-Maliki's fractious government has been beset by walkouts and the parliament has been unable to agree on major legislation.
Lawmakers were alarmed when six members of the Iraq Accord Front, the Sunni bloc, walked out several weeks ago. Backroom negotiations have been going on ever since. The Bush administration is concerned about the central government's political problems. "Unfortunately, political progress at the national level has not matched the pace of progress at the local level," President Bush said in his weekly radio address.
Al-Maliki signed a political agreement Thursday with three other leaders -- President Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdish regional government leader Massoud Barzani of the Kurdish Democratic Party, and Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq. The purpose was to create an alliance of moderates, particularly ahead of next month's report to the U.S. Congress on the state of affairs in Iraq. Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker will deliver the report.
Al-Hashimi did not show up at Thursday's meeting. His party, the Iraqi Islamic Party, is the largest in the government coalition and his presence in the new alliance is regarded as a major step in forging a national consensus. But on Saturday, Al-Hashimi and the four leaders who signed the agreement on Thursday discussed the political crisis and ways to resolve their differences.
Al-Maliki will travel to Syria on Monday for a three-day official visit to the Arab neighbor, his first. His delegation will include the ministers of trade and oil. Earlier this month, he visited Iran. Both Iran and Syria have been criticized by the Bush administration. The U.S. administration says that Iranian Revolutionary Guard agents are supporting Iraqi insurgents -- a claim Iran denies -- and accuses Syria of not doing enough to stop militants from crossing the Syrian border into Iraq to stage attacks. Nevertheless, Iraq has signed agreements with Iran on building oil pipelines and maintaining border security and has sought to establish ties with Syria.
The meeting started in the late afternoon and lasted for a few hours, and it may resume on Sunday, al-Maliki's office said. Al-Hashimi's office said they agreed on the summit's agenda and who will attend, as well as some similar issues. Al-Maliki's fractious government has been beset by walkouts and the parliament has been unable to agree on major legislation.
Lawmakers were alarmed when six members of the Iraq Accord Front, the Sunni bloc, walked out several weeks ago. Backroom negotiations have been going on ever since. The Bush administration is concerned about the central government's political problems. "Unfortunately, political progress at the national level has not matched the pace of progress at the local level," President Bush said in his weekly radio address.
Al-Maliki signed a political agreement Thursday with three other leaders -- President Jalal Talabani of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdish regional government leader Massoud Barzani of the Kurdish Democratic Party, and Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul Mehdi of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq. The purpose was to create an alliance of moderates, particularly ahead of next month's report to the U.S. Congress on the state of affairs in Iraq. Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker will deliver the report.
Al-Hashimi did not show up at Thursday's meeting. His party, the Iraqi Islamic Party, is the largest in the government coalition and his presence in the new alliance is regarded as a major step in forging a national consensus. But on Saturday, Al-Hashimi and the four leaders who signed the agreement on Thursday discussed the political crisis and ways to resolve their differences.
Al-Maliki will travel to Syria on Monday for a three-day official visit to the Arab neighbor, his first. His delegation will include the ministers of trade and oil. Earlier this month, he visited Iran. Both Iran and Syria have been criticized by the Bush administration. The U.S. administration says that Iranian Revolutionary Guard agents are supporting Iraqi insurgents -- a claim Iran denies -- and accuses Syria of not doing enough to stop militants from crossing the Syrian border into Iraq to stage attacks. Nevertheless, Iraq has signed agreements with Iran on building oil pipelines and maintaining border security and has sought to establish ties with Syria.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi Islamic Party, Nouri Al-Maliki, Syria, Tariq al-Hashimi
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Accord Front: Anbar Salvation Council’s Ministers (Nominees) Will NOT Represent Us
Politics, Tribal
(Badr Newspaper) - 15 AUG - Accord Front spokesman, Salim Abid Al Jabouri stated, “The Anbar Salvation Council’s nominees who are intended to replace Accord Front’s Ministers (who withdrew from Al Maliki’s Administration) do not represent the sect (all Sunnis), they only represent themselves.” On the other hand, Iraq’s Vice President Tariq Al Hashimi has made the following demand: all of the political blocs must attend the upcoming “meeting of top-level political leaders”. Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has called for all of Iraq’s political leaders to participate in this meeting.
Ali Al Barrak, a spokesman for the Vice President’s (Al Hashimi’s) office, said: Al Hashimi has accepted the invitation to attend this conference of top-level political leadership, however, he made the following condition: all of Iraq’s political leaders must take part in this meeting! On another hand, Ayad Al Samaraie, the Accord Front’s Chief (in Iraq’s Parliament) emphasized the necessity of the government’s fulfilling the Constitution. He continued: Iraq is witnessing a political crisis; because, the leaders have abandoned the political programs. They abandoned the goals which all the sides participating in the political process had agreed on. Al Samaraie told the press, “Abandonment of the Constitution is the reason for Iraq’s political crisis.”
Recently, Al Maliki said that this (top-level political leaders) meeting will discuss: the political blocs’ demands, and which of these demands that we can accomplis but, only on the condition that the political blocs accept the need to: approve key legislation in the Parliament, and hold a confirmation vote (concerning the Sadr Movement’s six) Ministers who resigned. It has been a month since he (Al Maliki) submitted a list of replacement Ministers to Parliament.
It is expected that this top-level meeting will include many individuals, such as: the (Iraqi) Republic’s President – Jalal Talabani, plus Iraq’s two Vice Presidents – Adil Abd Al Mahdi and Tariq Al Hashimi, (Prime Minister) Al Maliki, Kurdistan’s Regional President – Massoud Barzani, and other leaders of (Iraq’s) political blocs.
Ali Al Barrak, a spokesman for the Vice President’s (Al Hashimi’s) office, said: Al Hashimi has accepted the invitation to attend this conference of top-level political leadership, however, he made the following condition: all of Iraq’s political leaders must take part in this meeting! On another hand, Ayad Al Samaraie, the Accord Front’s Chief (in Iraq’s Parliament) emphasized the necessity of the government’s fulfilling the Constitution. He continued: Iraq is witnessing a political crisis; because, the leaders have abandoned the political programs. They abandoned the goals which all the sides participating in the political process had agreed on. Al Samaraie told the press, “Abandonment of the Constitution is the reason for Iraq’s political crisis.”
Recently, Al Maliki said that this (top-level political leaders) meeting will discuss: the political blocs’ demands, and which of these demands that we can accomplis but, only on the condition that the political blocs accept the need to: approve key legislation in the Parliament, and hold a confirmation vote (concerning the Sadr Movement’s six) Ministers who resigned. It has been a month since he (Al Maliki) submitted a list of replacement Ministers to Parliament.
It is expected that this top-level meeting will include many individuals, such as: the (Iraqi) Republic’s President – Jalal Talabani, plus Iraq’s two Vice Presidents – Adil Abd Al Mahdi and Tariq Al Hashimi, (Prime Minister) Al Maliki, Kurdistan’s Regional President – Massoud Barzani, and other leaders of (Iraq’s) political blocs.
Labels: Anbar Salvation Council, Ayad Al Samaraie, constitution, Iraqi Accordance Front, Salim Abid Al Jabouri, Tariq Al Hashemi
Dulaim Tribal Sheikhs And Anbar Salvation Council Submit Nominees To Replace Accord Front’s Ministers
Politics, Tribal
(Badr Newspaper) - 15 AUG - Prime Minister, Nuri Al Maliki, met with the Dulaim Tribal Chiefs and some members of the Anbar Salvation Council. The Dulaim Tribe has submitted a list of nominees to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers (who have withdrawn from Al Maliki’s Cabinet). The list consists of ten names; most of them are from the Anbar Salvation Council.
Sheikh Ali Al Hatim, a Dulaim Tribal Chief, during a press conference, said, “During our meeting with the Prime Minister we discussed this list of nominees who were selected by us in order to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers.” He clarified: in reality, the Accord Front has failed to achieve any success; therefore, the Accord Front does not have the right to lead the people. The Accord Front has come to an impasse in the government.
Sheikh Al Hatim also mentioned: this list of nominees, whom we presented as (possible) replacements for the Accord’s Ministers, is based on the successful accomplishments which have occurred in Anbar Province where the government’s security forces and US forces had been unable to accomplish anything. Al Hatim said, “Our meeting with Al Maliki was positive. He (Al Maliki) was responsive to our demands.” However, Al Hatim added: Al Maliki wants to give the Accord Front another chance to reconsider its demands and maybe they will return to the government.
Regarding the subject of Anbar Salvation Council member – Hamid Al Hayis who wants to become the minister of one of Iraq’s “security ministries”, Al Hatim said, “Al Hayis can not nominate himself to fill any position. Subjects such as these should first be studied by the Anbar Salvation Council members before they are approved. Therefore, the reports about this subject are incorrect.”
Sheikh Ali Al Hatim, a Dulaim Tribal Chief, during a press conference, said, “During our meeting with the Prime Minister we discussed this list of nominees who were selected by us in order to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers.” He clarified: in reality, the Accord Front has failed to achieve any success; therefore, the Accord Front does not have the right to lead the people. The Accord Front has come to an impasse in the government.
Sheikh Al Hatim also mentioned: this list of nominees, whom we presented as (possible) replacements for the Accord’s Ministers, is based on the successful accomplishments which have occurred in Anbar Province where the government’s security forces and US forces had been unable to accomplish anything. Al Hatim said, “Our meeting with Al Maliki was positive. He (Al Maliki) was responsive to our demands.” However, Al Hatim added: Al Maliki wants to give the Accord Front another chance to reconsider its demands and maybe they will return to the government.
Regarding the subject of Anbar Salvation Council member – Hamid Al Hayis who wants to become the minister of one of Iraq’s “security ministries”, Al Hatim said, “Al Hayis can not nominate himself to fill any position. Subjects such as these should first be studied by the Anbar Salvation Council members before they are approved. Therefore, the reports about this subject are incorrect.”
Karim Al Bukhati, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Tribal Affairs, emphasized that he has no knowledge about the meeting of Al Maliki and Sheikh Al Hatim. It’s clear that this meeting was intended to be secret; (therefore) I have no knowledge about Al Maliki’s meeting with Sheikh Al Hatim. Al Bukhati continued: often important political developments are not preceded by announcements. He specified that Al Hatim had come in order to submit the Anbar Salvation Council’s list of nominees to replace the Accord Front’s Ministers.
Labels: Anbar Salvation Council, Dulaim Tribal Chiefs, Hamid Al Hayis, Iraqi Accordance Front, Karim Al Bukhati, Nouri Al-Maliki, Sheikh Ali Al Hatim
Sunnis shun Maliki's new alliance of Kurds and Shiites
Politics
(Gulf News) - The Iraqi prime minister and president on Thursday announced a new alliance of moderate Shiites and Kurds, saying Sunni moderates refused to join but the door remained open to them. Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said the agreement was the first step to unblock political stagnation that has gripped his Shiite-led government since it first took power in May2006.
Pressure has been mounting against Al Maliki who has been criticised for having a Shiite bias and failing to stop the sectarian violence, which persists in Iraq despite the presence of tens of thousands of extra US troops. The announcement of the political accord after three days of intense negotiations in the capital was disappointing because it did not include Iraq's Sunni Vice President Tariq Al Hashemi and his moderate Iraqi Islamic Party.
President Jalal Talabani and Al Maliki were flanked by the leader of the northern autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, and Shiite Vice President Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi at a news conference. The four men signed a three-page agreement that they said ensures them a majority in the 275-member parliament that would allow movement of critical US-demanded legislation.
Talabani, a Kurd, said Al Hashemi refused the invitation to join in the new political grouping but "the door is still open to them and they are welcome at any time." Al Maliki also called on the Sunni Accordance Front, which includes Al Hashemi's party, to return to the government, to heal a rift that opened when the bloc's five Cabinet ministers quit the government.
The four-party agreement was unveiled four weeks before the top US commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker are to deliver a progress report on Iraq to Congress. "We have relegated efforts to topple the government to the past. We are now in a new stage," said Al Maliki's adviser, Yassin Majeed. "We will keep working to bring the Accordance Front back, but if they insist we will have a majority in parliament and bring in new ministers."
Omar Abdul-Sattar, a lawmaker with the Iraqi Islamic Party, said Kurdish representatives issued the invitaton on Wednesday and it was refused. "We said we are not ready tojoin this alliance at the current time," he said.
Pressure has been mounting against Al Maliki who has been criticised for having a Shiite bias and failing to stop the sectarian violence, which persists in Iraq despite the presence of tens of thousands of extra US troops. The announcement of the political accord after three days of intense negotiations in the capital was disappointing because it did not include Iraq's Sunni Vice President Tariq Al Hashemi and his moderate Iraqi Islamic Party.
President Jalal Talabani and Al Maliki were flanked by the leader of the northern autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, and Shiite Vice President Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi at a news conference. The four men signed a three-page agreement that they said ensures them a majority in the 275-member parliament that would allow movement of critical US-demanded legislation.
Talabani, a Kurd, said Al Hashemi refused the invitation to join in the new political grouping but "the door is still open to them and they are welcome at any time." Al Maliki also called on the Sunni Accordance Front, which includes Al Hashemi's party, to return to the government, to heal a rift that opened when the bloc's five Cabinet ministers quit the government.
The four-party agreement was unveiled four weeks before the top US commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker are to deliver a progress report on Iraq to Congress. "We have relegated efforts to topple the government to the past. We are now in a new stage," said Al Maliki's adviser, Yassin Majeed. "We will keep working to bring the Accordance Front back, but if they insist we will have a majority in parliament and bring in new ministers."
Omar Abdul-Sattar, a lawmaker with the Iraqi Islamic Party, said Kurdish representatives issued the invitaton on Wednesday and it was refused. "We said we are not ready tojoin this alliance at the current time," he said.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi Islamic Party, Jalal Talabani, Massoud Barzani, Nouri Al-Maliki, Tariq Al Hashemi
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Allawi won't attend political summit
Politics
(Al-Arabiyah television) - Salim al-Juburi, a spokesman for the Iraqi Accordance Front, told Al-Arabiyah television in an August 12 interview that leaders from the front will likely attend the meeting convened by Prime Minister al-Maliki. Al-Juburi said a number of preparatory meetings have already been held in order to set the agenda for the political summit.
"We feel the meeting is important and it is a step for political reform," al-Juburi said. He added that even if some of its demands are met, that doesn't necessarily mean the front's members will return to their cabinet posts.
Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi will not attend the political summit, Al-Sharqiyah television reported on August 12. The news channel quoted Allawi as saying he will not be able to accept an invitation to attend. It also quoted an unidentified member of Allawi's media office as saying Allawi never received an invitation to attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, Iraqi media reported on August 12 that Kurdistan regional President Mas'ud Barzani has arrived in Baghdad to attend the political summit. Barzani reportedly met on August 12 with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and aides to al-Maliki.
Labels: emergency political summit, Iraqi Accordance Front, Iyad Allawi, Salim al-Juburi
Monday, August 13, 2007
Senior Sunni politician in plea to Arab nations to stop 'genocide campaign'
Politics
(AP) - Iraq's most senior Sunni politician issued a desperate appeal Sunday for Arab nations to help stop what he called an "unprecedented genocide campaign" by Shiite militias armed, trained and controlled by Iran. The U.S. military reported five American soldiers were killed, apparently lured into an al-Qaeda trap.
Adnan al-Dulaimi said "Persians" and "Safawis," Sunni terms for Iranian Shiites, were on the brink of total control in Baghdad and soon would threaten Sunni Arab regimes which predominate in the Mideast. "It is a war that has started in Baghdad and they will not stop there but will expand it to all Arab lands," al-Dulaimi wrote in an impassioned e-mail to The Associated Press.
Sunni Arab regimes throughout the Middle East fear the growing influence of Iran's Shiite theocracy with radical groups like Hezbollah and Hamas as well as the Syrian regime. Raising the specter of Iranian power reaching the Arab doorstep, unlikely in the near-term, betrayed al-Dulaimi's desperation.
But his fears of a Shiite takeover of Baghdad were not as farfetched. Mahdi Army militiamen have cleansed entire neighborhoods of Sunni residents and seized Sunni mosques. Day by day, hundreds have been killed and thousands have fled their homes, seeking safety in the shrinking number of majority Sunni districts.
The fighters, nominally loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, are believed to operate as death squads blamed for much of the country's sectarian slaughter. Sunni extremists, many with al-Qaeda links, are responsible too, mainly through massive bombings, often carried out by suicide attackers. Like al-Dulaimi, the United States accuses Iran of providing the Shiite militia with sophisticated armor-piercing roadside bombs, other weapons and training. Iran denies the allegations.
Al-Dulaimi resorted to the extremely harsh language a day after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, returned from his second visit to Tehran since taking power 14 months ago. The outburst reflected growing anger in the Sunni establishment over perceptions of al-Maliki as a deeply biased sectarian leader with links to Iran. "Arabs, your brothers in the land of the two rivers and in Baghdad in particular are exposed to an unprecedented genocide campaign by the militias and death squads that are directed, armed and supported by Iran," al-Dulaimi said.
And he castigated fellow Sunnis in the Middle East, saying they "did not make any move and did not even bother to denounce what is taking place against your brothers at the hands of Iranian militias and death squads." The 75-year-old al-Dulaimi heads the Iraqi Accordance Front, the largest Sunni political bloc in parliament. The coalition of parties pulled its six Cabinet ministers from al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated government Aug. 1.
Five days later, government ministers loyal to former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite, launched a boycott of Cabinet meetings. That left the government without any Sunni Arab members, except the politically unaffiliated defense minister. Major political figures were expected to hold a rare summit with al-Maliki this week in Baghdad to address the government crisis.
At a news conference Sunday, al-Maliki defended his Iranian sojourn and said he would continue traveling to neighboring countries and asking for help to curb violence. He was expected to be in Syria next week, but the trip has not been announced. "Iraq has turned into the center of terrorism. Iraq will only succeed through reconciliation," he said.
Al-Dulaimi's remarks focused not on reconciliation but on Arab nationalism and perceived Iranian threats. "I call on all Arabs — Muslims, presidents and kings and people — to intervene and urge the Iraqi government to end this crisis. I call on them to stand beside Iraqis against violence and the oppression that come to us from Iran and its agents."
Adnan al-Dulaimi said "Persians" and "Safawis," Sunni terms for Iranian Shiites, were on the brink of total control in Baghdad and soon would threaten Sunni Arab regimes which predominate in the Mideast. "It is a war that has started in Baghdad and they will not stop there but will expand it to all Arab lands," al-Dulaimi wrote in an impassioned e-mail to The Associated Press.
Sunni Arab regimes throughout the Middle East fear the growing influence of Iran's Shiite theocracy with radical groups like Hezbollah and Hamas as well as the Syrian regime. Raising the specter of Iranian power reaching the Arab doorstep, unlikely in the near-term, betrayed al-Dulaimi's desperation.
But his fears of a Shiite takeover of Baghdad were not as farfetched. Mahdi Army militiamen have cleansed entire neighborhoods of Sunni residents and seized Sunni mosques. Day by day, hundreds have been killed and thousands have fled their homes, seeking safety in the shrinking number of majority Sunni districts.
The fighters, nominally loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, are believed to operate as death squads blamed for much of the country's sectarian slaughter. Sunni extremists, many with al-Qaeda links, are responsible too, mainly through massive bombings, often carried out by suicide attackers. Like al-Dulaimi, the United States accuses Iran of providing the Shiite militia with sophisticated armor-piercing roadside bombs, other weapons and training. Iran denies the allegations.
Al-Dulaimi resorted to the extremely harsh language a day after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, returned from his second visit to Tehran since taking power 14 months ago. The outburst reflected growing anger in the Sunni establishment over perceptions of al-Maliki as a deeply biased sectarian leader with links to Iran. "Arabs, your brothers in the land of the two rivers and in Baghdad in particular are exposed to an unprecedented genocide campaign by the militias and death squads that are directed, armed and supported by Iran," al-Dulaimi said.
And he castigated fellow Sunnis in the Middle East, saying they "did not make any move and did not even bother to denounce what is taking place against your brothers at the hands of Iranian militias and death squads." The 75-year-old al-Dulaimi heads the Iraqi Accordance Front, the largest Sunni political bloc in parliament. The coalition of parties pulled its six Cabinet ministers from al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated government Aug. 1.
Five days later, government ministers loyal to former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite, launched a boycott of Cabinet meetings. That left the government without any Sunni Arab members, except the politically unaffiliated defense minister. Major political figures were expected to hold a rare summit with al-Maliki this week in Baghdad to address the government crisis.
At a news conference Sunday, al-Maliki defended his Iranian sojourn and said he would continue traveling to neighboring countries and asking for help to curb violence. He was expected to be in Syria next week, but the trip has not been announced. "Iraq has turned into the center of terrorism. Iraq will only succeed through reconciliation," he said.
Al-Dulaimi's remarks focused not on reconciliation but on Arab nationalism and perceived Iranian threats. "I call on all Arabs — Muslims, presidents and kings and people — to intervene and urge the Iraqi government to end this crisis. I call on them to stand beside Iraqis against violence and the oppression that come to us from Iran and its agents."
Labels: Adnan al-Dulaimi, Iran, Iraqi Accordance Front, Mahdi Army, Nouri Al-Maliki, Persians, Safawis
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Arrest warrants issued for sports figures - IAF calls for their protection
Politics, Sport
(Voices of Iraq) - The Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) called for protecting the Iraqi Football Association chief Hussein Saed and current coach Ahmed Radi, adding the minister of youths & sports has issued arrest warrants against them. "While the Iraqi people celebrate the great victory achieved by the national football team, two arrest warrants were issued against IAF candidate Ahmed Radi and the Iraqi Football Association Chairman Hussein Saed," according to an IAF statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on Tuesday.
The Front's statement, released on Monday, urged the intervention of the Iraqi presidency council and international organizations "to deal quickly with the issue in the service of the public interests." Radi and Saed had stated via the mass media that two arrest warrants were issued against them for criticizing the government and accusing it of "not backing the sports march in Iraq." Iraqi Interior Minister Jawwad al-Bulani had then denied these warrants were issued.
Iraq has won the 14th Asian nations cup for the first time in its history after defeating Saudi Arabia 1/0 with a header by striker Younis Mahmoud in the final match in Jakarta, Indonesia on July 29. The IAF, which is composed of three Sunni political organizations and has 44 out of a total 275 seats in the Iraqi parliament, had withdrawn its five ministers and Deputy Premier Sallam al-Zawbaie from the incumbent government of Nouri al-Maliki in protest against failure to respond to its demands for political and security reforms.
The Front's statement, released on Monday, urged the intervention of the Iraqi presidency council and international organizations "to deal quickly with the issue in the service of the public interests." Radi and Saed had stated via the mass media that two arrest warrants were issued against them for criticizing the government and accusing it of "not backing the sports march in Iraq." Iraqi Interior Minister Jawwad al-Bulani had then denied these warrants were issued.
Iraq has won the 14th Asian nations cup for the first time in its history after defeating Saudi Arabia 1/0 with a header by striker Younis Mahmoud in the final match in Jakarta, Indonesia on July 29. The IAF, which is composed of three Sunni political organizations and has 44 out of a total 275 seats in the Iraqi parliament, had withdrawn its five ministers and Deputy Premier Sallam al-Zawbaie from the incumbent government of Nouri al-Maliki in protest against failure to respond to its demands for political and security reforms.
Labels: Ahmed Radi, arrest warrants, Hussein Saed, Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi Football Association, Jawwad al-Bulani
Talabani optimistic that political parties can agree on developing national unity govt
Politics
(RFE/RL) - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told reporters at an August 5 press briefing in Baghdad that he is optimistic that Iraq's fractious political parties can reach agreement on developing the national-unity government, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq reported the same day. He said that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has agreed with Talabani and Vice President Adil Abd al-Mahdi to work according to four previously agreed-upon principles: strengthening and developing the national-unity government; adhering to the previously agreed-upon political program and implementing outstanding provisions; constitutional reform, including a redistribution of executive power between the prime ministry and the Presidency Council; and studying the Iraq Accordance Front's demands and committing to meeting those demands deemed legitimate.
Talabani also discussed Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's announcement that he refused to accept the resignations of the Accordance Front's ministers in his cabinet. Talabani said the Presidency Council hopes the front's cabinet members will reconsider their boycott and return to work. For his part, al-Maliki discussed his conversation with U.S. President George W. Bush, telling reporters that Bush also called Talabani and Abd al-Mahdi because he recognized Iraq's executive branch was in dire need of consultation, communication, and integration. Abd al-Mahdi also attended the press briefing.
Sunni Arab Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi told Al-Sharqiyah television in an August 4 interview that he conveyed the Sunni Arab position to President Bush during a telephone call the same day. He said Bush stressed the need for collective leadership in Iraq. "For my part, I have reassured the U.S. president that the Accordance Front has withdrawn from Nuri al-Maliki's government but it has not withdrawn from the political process, and that it will remain active in the interest of Iraq from its position at the Presidency Council and the positions of its representatives at the Council of Representatives," al-Hashimi said.
Labels: Adil Abdul Mahdi, Council of Representatives, George Bush, Iraqi Accordance Front, Jalal Talabani, national unity, Presidency Council, Tariq Al Hashemi
Monday, August 06, 2007
Maliki rejects Accordance Front resignations
Politics
(Al Jazeera) - Iraqi leaders are to hold a crisis summit this week to find ways to heal sectarian splits in the national unity government. A senior Western diplomat said the talks were a "moment of truth" for Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister, after he refused to accept the resignation of six Sunni members of his cabinet and agreed to hear their concerns.
The prime minister met Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, a Kurd, and Adel Abdel Mehdi, the Shia vice-president, on Sunday to discuss the resignations. Tareq al-Hashemi, who is Iraq's other vice-president and the senior Sunni Arab in the government, was not present. Al-Hashemi has been a regular critic of al-Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, but his Kurdish and Shia colleagues vowed to hold inclusive talks in the coming days.
On Wednesday, the National Concord Front, Iraq's main Sunni political bloc, said it was withdrawing its five ministers and deputy prime minister from the government coalition, dealing a blow to the government's claims to represent all Iraqis. After Sunday's meeting, al-Maliki said: "We agreed on making efforts in order to get the Concord Front back and to tackle what we are able to tackle, but not everything that they have demanded."
Abdel Mehdi said: "The prime minister's position is that he has refused to accept the resignations. This is a good thing and the door is open to discuss this topic." Salim al-Jibouri, a senior member of parliament from the front, said the ministers would still quit, despite al-Maliki's decision not to accept their resignations. He said: "We are insisting on our position. For us, the matter does not end with Maliki accepting or rejecting the resignations.
The prime minister met Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi president, a Kurd, and Adel Abdel Mehdi, the Shia vice-president, on Sunday to discuss the resignations. Tareq al-Hashemi, who is Iraq's other vice-president and the senior Sunni Arab in the government, was not present. Al-Hashemi has been a regular critic of al-Maliki's alleged sectarian bias, but his Kurdish and Shia colleagues vowed to hold inclusive talks in the coming days.
On Wednesday, the National Concord Front, Iraq's main Sunni political bloc, said it was withdrawing its five ministers and deputy prime minister from the government coalition, dealing a blow to the government's claims to represent all Iraqis. After Sunday's meeting, al-Maliki said: "We agreed on making efforts in order to get the Concord Front back and to tackle what we are able to tackle, but not everything that they have demanded."
Abdel Mehdi said: "The prime minister's position is that he has refused to accept the resignations. This is a good thing and the door is open to discuss this topic." Salim al-Jibouri, a senior member of parliament from the front, said the ministers would still quit, despite al-Maliki's decision not to accept their resignations. He said: "We are insisting on our position. For us, the matter does not end with Maliki accepting or rejecting the resignations.
"We are talking about a programme. The issue is if he accepts or refuses to accept our programme." The programme refers to the front's lists of demands that include disbanding Shia fighters and giving the bloc a bigger say in security matters. Saleem Abdullah, a spokesman for the front, said: "At the moment, we have no intention of changing our position on the resignations. It is not necessary for us to be a part of the government." However, Abdulllah also said "the door to dialogue is open, even if we are outside the government".
Labels: Adel Abdel Mahdi, Iraqi Accordance Front, Jalal Talabani, Nouri Al-Maliki, Saleem Abdullah, Salim al-Juburi, Tawafuq Front
Friday, August 03, 2007
Concern grows among Iraqi politicians following IAF withdrawal
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraqi politicians demonstrated their concerns about the implications of the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front's (IAF) withdrawal from the government for the future of the Iraqi political process. Stressing the Iraqi political process's need for reform, MP Maisoon al-Damlouji from the Iraqi National Slate told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI), "The political process, which is based on a sectarian quota system, is about to fall. We have to handle the situation before reaching the point of no return."
Urging Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to listen to the IAF's demands, al-Damlouji said that constructive dialogue at the current time is necessary for discussing all unresolved issues. "The IAF, the National Slate, the Sadrist movement, al-Fadila Party and the National Dialogue Front (NDF) are equally dissatisfied with the current situation… The Iraqi prime minister must listen to what we are saying before it is too late," al-Damlouji indicated.
The mostly secular Iraqi National Slate, led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, holds 24 seats in the Iraqi parliament. Khalaf al-Alian, a leading IAF member, described the current Iraqi political process as a "failure" and indicated that the departure of his front, along with the Sadrist movement, from the government is a clear sign that al-Maliki's government is becoming increasingly unpopular in the Iraqi street. According to al-Alian, al-Maliki has two choices: to form a government of independent technocrats or to step down in favor of a more qualified person.
Meanwhile, MP Ali al-Alaq from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC), the largest parliamentary bloc with 111 seats, told VOI that the IAF's decision does not necessarily indicate retrogression in the political process, which he is said is "working fine."
Displaying pessimism about the future of the Iraqi political process, Hadi Aliwa, a political analyst, held the Iraqi government and parliamentary blocs responsible for the "failure" to reach political consensus. "Each bloc is working on its own. Several regional and international factors, the most important of which is the U.S. occupation, are affecting the political process," Aliwa explained.
The mostly secular Iraqi National Slate, led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, holds 24 seats in the Iraqi parliament. Khalaf al-Alian, a leading IAF member, described the current Iraqi political process as a "failure" and indicated that the departure of his front, along with the Sadrist movement, from the government is a clear sign that al-Maliki's government is becoming increasingly unpopular in the Iraqi street. According to al-Alian, al-Maliki has two choices: to form a government of independent technocrats or to step down in favor of a more qualified person.
Meanwhile, MP Ali al-Alaq from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC), the largest parliamentary bloc with 111 seats, told VOI that the IAF's decision does not necessarily indicate retrogression in the political process, which he is said is "working fine."
Displaying pessimism about the future of the Iraqi political process, Hadi Aliwa, a political analyst, held the Iraqi government and parliamentary blocs responsible for the "failure" to reach political consensus. "Each bloc is working on its own. Several regional and international factors, the most important of which is the U.S. occupation, are affecting the political process," Aliwa explained.
Labels: Fadhela party, Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi National Slate, Maisoon al-Damlouji, National Dialogue Front, Sadrist bloc, Tawafuq Front, Unified Iraqi Coalition
Iraqi National List considers withdrawal from government
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - A member in the Iraqi National List (INL) said on Thursday that his bloc is considering withdrawing from the Iraqi government, stressing that the withdrawal, if it happens, will be an outcome of the front's stance, not another bloc’s position. "A withdrawal decision of the (INL) ministers has not been made yet," Osama al-Negefi, an INL MP, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone.
"We have reservations about the government's performance and we presented a memorandum regarding this three months ago… in which we asked to reform the political process," he said, noting that the withdrawal option is open if demands are not met. The Iraqi National List is a secular bloc and the fourth largest bloc with 25 seats out of the 275-member parliament. The parliamentary bloc has four portfolios within al-Maliki's government.
He stressed that if the bloc withdraws from the government this will be an outcome of their position, not that of the Iraqi Accordance Front. The Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) announced on Wednesday its withdrawal from the government and the resignation of five ministers in addition to Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie. The IAF had 44 seats in the parliament and it is the third largest bloc after the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) and the Kurdistan Coalition (KC).
"The memorandum presented by the INL has 14 points, and we said that the political process had deviated from its right track and the security file was in the hands of a group belonging to certain parties," al-Negefi said. "The memorandum also included (demands concerning) the participation of some parties not included in the political process, the national reconciliation project and the detainees file," the legislator noted.
MP from the same bloc, Mayson al-Demlougi, said that their demands were ignored by al-Maliki's government, saying "we feel marginalized." She urged the premier to listen carefully to the demands of other blocs, which have reservations about the government's performance, warning of grave consequences if the current government keeps on ignoring blocs' demands.
Head of the INL, Iyad Allawi, described in a televised interview on Wednesday, after the withdrawal of the IAF, the current government as "a sectarian government," considering the withdrawal of the IAF as "a collapse of the political process," highlighting that his front is considering making a similar step.
"We have reservations about the government's performance and we presented a memorandum regarding this three months ago… in which we asked to reform the political process," he said, noting that the withdrawal option is open if demands are not met. The Iraqi National List is a secular bloc and the fourth largest bloc with 25 seats out of the 275-member parliament. The parliamentary bloc has four portfolios within al-Maliki's government.
He stressed that if the bloc withdraws from the government this will be an outcome of their position, not that of the Iraqi Accordance Front. The Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) announced on Wednesday its withdrawal from the government and the resignation of five ministers in addition to Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie. The IAF had 44 seats in the parliament and it is the third largest bloc after the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) and the Kurdistan Coalition (KC).
"The memorandum presented by the INL has 14 points, and we said that the political process had deviated from its right track and the security file was in the hands of a group belonging to certain parties," al-Negefi said. "The memorandum also included (demands concerning) the participation of some parties not included in the political process, the national reconciliation project and the detainees file," the legislator noted.
MP from the same bloc, Mayson al-Demlougi, said that their demands were ignored by al-Maliki's government, saying "we feel marginalized." She urged the premier to listen carefully to the demands of other blocs, which have reservations about the government's performance, warning of grave consequences if the current government keeps on ignoring blocs' demands.
Head of the INL, Iyad Allawi, described in a televised interview on Wednesday, after the withdrawal of the IAF, the current government as "a sectarian government," considering the withdrawal of the IAF as "a collapse of the political process," highlighting that his front is considering making a similar step.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi National List, Iyad Allawi, Osama al-Negefi
