Monday, July 16, 2007
Sadrists, Accord Front in discussions with leaders to end parliament boycott
Politics
(AP) - Meanwhile, parliament convened on Monday as Iraqi politicians tried to end a pair of boycotts of the legislature that are holding up work on crucial reforms sought by Washington. The top Sunni party, the Iraqi Accordance Party has refused to attend parliament to protest the removal of the Sunni speaker of parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. The Shiite-dominated parliament voted June 11 to remove al-Mashhadani because of erratic behavior and comments that frequently embarrassed al-Maliki's government.
Sunnis also want the government to set aside an arrest warrant against the Sunni culture minister, accused of ordering an assassination attempt against a fellow Sunni legislator. Adnan al-Dulaimi, the Accordance Front leader, met Sunday with al-Maliki to discuss the Sunni boycott. After the meeting, al-Dulaimi's spokesman, Muhannad al-Issawi, said that the boycott would continue and if the speaker were replaced, the decision should be made by the Sunnis and "not imposed" by Shiites and Kurds.
But al-Dulaimi was more optimistic about a settlement that would allow the Sunnis to return. "Things are, God willing, on their way to be resolved," al-Dulaimi told The Associated Press. "The pending issue of al-Mashhadani and that of the minister of culture will be solved by the end of the week, and things will go back to their normal course." Hassan al-Suneid, a Shiite lawmaker close to al-Maliki, also said a deal was near under which al-Mashhadani could return to his post briefly, then permitted to retire.
Meanwhile, a member of the Shiite Sadr bloc said his faction would meet Monday with parliament leaders to discuss their own boycott, launched to protest delays in rebuilding a Shiite shrine in Samarra that was damaged by a bomb in February 2006.
The absence of the two major blocs has delayed work on such key benchmark legislation as the oil bill, constitutional reform, scheduling local elections and restoring many former Saddam Hussein loyalists to government jobs. Those are among the 18 benchmarks that Washington uses to measure progress toward national reconciliation. A White House report last week found that Iraqis had made only limited progress, fueling calls for a U.S. troop withdrawal.
Sunnis also want the government to set aside an arrest warrant against the Sunni culture minister, accused of ordering an assassination attempt against a fellow Sunni legislator. Adnan al-Dulaimi, the Accordance Front leader, met Sunday with al-Maliki to discuss the Sunni boycott. After the meeting, al-Dulaimi's spokesman, Muhannad al-Issawi, said that the boycott would continue and if the speaker were replaced, the decision should be made by the Sunnis and "not imposed" by Shiites and Kurds.
But al-Dulaimi was more optimistic about a settlement that would allow the Sunnis to return. "Things are, God willing, on their way to be resolved," al-Dulaimi told The Associated Press. "The pending issue of al-Mashhadani and that of the minister of culture will be solved by the end of the week, and things will go back to their normal course." Hassan al-Suneid, a Shiite lawmaker close to al-Maliki, also said a deal was near under which al-Mashhadani could return to his post briefly, then permitted to retire.
Meanwhile, a member of the Shiite Sadr bloc said his faction would meet Monday with parliament leaders to discuss their own boycott, launched to protest delays in rebuilding a Shiite shrine in Samarra that was damaged by a bomb in February 2006.
The absence of the two major blocs has delayed work on such key benchmark legislation as the oil bill, constitutional reform, scheduling local elections and restoring many former Saddam Hussein loyalists to government jobs. Those are among the 18 benchmarks that Washington uses to measure progress toward national reconciliation. A White House report last week found that Iraqis had made only limited progress, fueling calls for a U.S. troop withdrawal.
Labels: Adnan Dulaimi, Hassan al-Suneid, Iraqi Accordance Front, Mahmoud Al Mashahdani, Nouri Al-Maliki, Sadrist bloc
Monday, July 02, 2007
Sunni govt officials leave Baghdad for Kurdistan
Politics, Security
(Gulf News) - In a striking development, some top Sunni officials in the Iraqi government and parliament have decided to transfer their families to the more secure Kurdish region, Sunni politicians said. Salman Al Jabouri, a leading figure in Ahl Al Iraq convention (People of Iraq convention), Karkh section in Baghdad, told Gulf News: "Militias might kidnap Sunni officials' sons and murder them. Besides, Al Qaida has become a serious threat to the families, ... the Accord Front do not want their families to dwell inside the American fortified International Zone [formerly the Green Zone]."
Information indicates that the families of Vice-President Tariq Al Hashemi, Deputy Prime Minister Salam Al Zubai, and the suspended head of the Iraqi Parliament Mahmoud Al Mashadani, will move to the Kurdish regions, especially to Arbil, where leaders promised special protection and support. The escalation of sectarian violence in Baghdad led Sunni leaders to transfer their families to Kurdish region, a step that might indicate a worsening of security situation in future, said Sunni sources.
Faris, an official bodyguard for Sunni Accord Front members, told Gulf News: "There were written threats sent to Sunni officials, claiming to kill their family members if they do not withdraw from the whole political process .... Besides the possibility of securing their families' safety in Baghdad became almost impossible. ... their sons ... go to schools and universities while their wives visit relatives, that is the reason we need a large number of bodyguards."
According to Iraqi sources, who asked not to be named, some Arab countries have offered to host families of the Sunni officials, but they preferred the Kurd region mainly because most Sunni leaders admire the Kurdish position characterised by moderation concerning de-Baathification and dissolution of the Iraqi army.
Zuhair Al Dulaimi, a history professor, told Gulf News: "An important reason forcing Sunnis to flee Baghdad is that assassination campaigns have turned into massacres, claiming the lives of 20 to 50 citizens per day." Sunni political groups estimated that 200,000 Iraqis have left for Jordan, Syria and Egypt among other countries, and approximately out of 190,000 Sunnis who left, 150,000 are from Baghdad alone.
Information indicates that the families of Vice-President Tariq Al Hashemi, Deputy Prime Minister Salam Al Zubai, and the suspended head of the Iraqi Parliament Mahmoud Al Mashadani, will move to the Kurdish regions, especially to Arbil, where leaders promised special protection and support. The escalation of sectarian violence in Baghdad led Sunni leaders to transfer their families to Kurdish region, a step that might indicate a worsening of security situation in future, said Sunni sources.
Faris, an official bodyguard for Sunni Accord Front members, told Gulf News: "There were written threats sent to Sunni officials, claiming to kill their family members if they do not withdraw from the whole political process .... Besides the possibility of securing their families' safety in Baghdad became almost impossible. ... their sons ... go to schools and universities while their wives visit relatives, that is the reason we need a large number of bodyguards."
According to Iraqi sources, who asked not to be named, some Arab countries have offered to host families of the Sunni officials, but they preferred the Kurd region mainly because most Sunni leaders admire the Kurdish position characterised by moderation concerning de-Baathification and dissolution of the Iraqi army.
Zuhair Al Dulaimi, a history professor, told Gulf News: "An important reason forcing Sunnis to flee Baghdad is that assassination campaigns have turned into massacres, claiming the lives of 20 to 50 citizens per day." Sunni political groups estimated that 200,000 Iraqis have left for Jordan, Syria and Egypt among other countries, and approximately out of 190,000 Sunnis who left, 150,000 are from Baghdad alone.
Labels: Al Qaeda, Green Zone, International Zone, Iraqi Accord Front, Kurdistan, Mahmoud Al Mashahdani, relocation, Salam Al Zubai, Sunni officials, Tariq Al Hashemi
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Allawi’s Group Demands To Postpone Implementation Of Article 140
Politics
(Al Mashriq Newspaper) - 25 JUN - The Iraqi List, which is led by Ayad Allawi, has demanded the postponement of the implementation of Article 140 regarding Kirkuk. The Iraqi List also demands that Mahmoud Al Mashahdani remain as Parliament chief. The Iraqi List stated that forming a new political front that includes political entities from the current political process will help extricate Iraq from its current situation.
The Iraqi List has presented a suggestion to postpone the implementation of Article 140. Yesterday, the Iraqi List issued a statement that said, “The current circumstances are not stable enough for the implementation of this article because of the major changes that have occurred in Kirkuk since the war. This postponement would assist in providing stability and security.” The Iraqi List’s statement also requested the formation of a political board to draft standards and criteria for implementing Article 140.
On the other hand, Iraqi List Parliament member, Aaliya Al Ubaidi said, “The Iraqi List supports Mahmoud Al Mashahdani remaining as the Parliament chief because of his patriotic and nationalistic attitude, which is aligned with the Iraqi street’s beliefs. There is a general opinion in the Iraqi List that he remains in his position. The causes behind the attempts to remove him are all political and are being attempted in order that certain laws can then be passed. If we review the original incident involving Al Mashahdani’s bodyguards, this incident was fabricated for the purpose of removing Al Mashahdani because there is no mention of removing the Parliament chief in the constitution or in the Parliament’s internal procedures. Article 12 of the Iraqi Parliament Rules stated that the Parliament chief’s resignation should only be for a very serious reason but no one has presented any such reason in this case. The incident was related to security and had nothing to do with Al Mashahdani.”
Iraqi List Parliament member, Izzat Al Shabandar stated, “The Iraqi List believes forming a new political entity is a method of extricating Iraq from its current political crisis. The Iraqi List has presented this project to the political entities for discussion. The Iraqi List does not want to announce the formation of the entity before it is guaranteed to succeed. Therefore, the formation of this entity will remain under discussion. This political entity will be able to ‘melt’ the internal problems and stand against Iraq’s enemies who want chaos in this country. This front will help relax Iraq’s neighboring countries.”
Regarding the Iraqi List’s and KDP’s shared beliefs, Shabandar clarified, “The meetings continue with the KDP have continued on an uninterrupted basis. The most recent meeting with the Kurdish personalities in the new front was to clarify viewpoints.” It is worthy to mention that the Iraqi List has held meetings with a number of parties and political entities in Cairo in order to prepare for the announcement of the new front. Some Parliament members believe these meetings were part of a coup against the current government.
On the other hand, Iraqi List Parliament member, Aaliya Al Ubaidi said, “The Iraqi List supports Mahmoud Al Mashahdani remaining as the Parliament chief because of his patriotic and nationalistic attitude, which is aligned with the Iraqi street’s beliefs. There is a general opinion in the Iraqi List that he remains in his position. The causes behind the attempts to remove him are all political and are being attempted in order that certain laws can then be passed. If we review the original incident involving Al Mashahdani’s bodyguards, this incident was fabricated for the purpose of removing Al Mashahdani because there is no mention of removing the Parliament chief in the constitution or in the Parliament’s internal procedures. Article 12 of the Iraqi Parliament Rules stated that the Parliament chief’s resignation should only be for a very serious reason but no one has presented any such reason in this case. The incident was related to security and had nothing to do with Al Mashahdani.”
Iraqi List Parliament member, Izzat Al Shabandar stated, “The Iraqi List believes forming a new political entity is a method of extricating Iraq from its current political crisis. The Iraqi List has presented this project to the political entities for discussion. The Iraqi List does not want to announce the formation of the entity before it is guaranteed to succeed. Therefore, the formation of this entity will remain under discussion. This political entity will be able to ‘melt’ the internal problems and stand against Iraq’s enemies who want chaos in this country. This front will help relax Iraq’s neighboring countries.”
Regarding the Iraqi List’s and KDP’s shared beliefs, Shabandar clarified, “The meetings continue with the KDP have continued on an uninterrupted basis. The most recent meeting with the Kurdish personalities in the new front was to clarify viewpoints.” It is worthy to mention that the Iraqi List has held meetings with a number of parties and political entities in Cairo in order to prepare for the announcement of the new front. Some Parliament members believe these meetings were part of a coup against the current government.
Labels: Article 140, Ayad Allawi, Iraqi List, Kirkuk, Mahmoud Al Mashahdani
