Thursday, August 02, 2007
Accord Front withdraws from parliament
Politics
(RFE/RL) - The main Sunni Arab political bloc today said it is withdrawing from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's coalition government over his failure to meet a list of demands. Legislators told a Baghdad press conference that the six ministers of the Accordance Front will submit their resignations today, after they suspended their participation in government last week.
The ministers resigning are: Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zoubaie; Culture Minister Asaad Kamal al-Hashemi; Higher Education Minister Abd Dhiab al-Ajili; Planning Minister Ali Baban; State Minister for Women's Affairs Fatin Abd al-Rahman Mahmud; and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Rafi al-Isawi.
The Accordance Front had demanded a greater say in security matters, and had accused al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led coalition of failing to consult it on key issues. "It has been obvious that the government is sticking to its arrogant stand and is still insisting on closing all the doors on any reforms necessary for saving Iraq," party spokesman Muhannad al-Issawi said today at a news conference in Baghdad.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih today told the Reuters news agency that the bloc's withdrawal "is probably the most serious political crisis we have faced since the passage of the constitution."
The Accordance Front had demanded a greater say in security matters, and had accused al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led coalition of failing to consult it on key issues. "It has been obvious that the government is sticking to its arrogant stand and is still insisting on closing all the doors on any reforms necessary for saving Iraq," party spokesman Muhannad al-Issawi said today at a news conference in Baghdad.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih today told the Reuters news agency that the bloc's withdrawal "is probably the most serious political crisis we have faced since the passage of the constitution."
COMMENT: This does not bode well, particularly at a time when the country requires political unity and equal representation. The constitution, the draft oil law and the referendum of Kirkuk (Article 140) are all current topics that require input from the Sunnis. Without the IAF, there will not be enough votes from the remaining Sunni parties on important issues and the Sunni political role will only be slightly stronger than after January 30 2005 when most Sunni Arabs boycotted the elections for Iraq's National Assembly. Since then, it has been a long and painful process to bring the Sunnis to the political table. This will also further undermine al-Maliki's government. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi parliament, Muhannad al-Issawi, resignation, Tawafoq Iraqi Front, withdrawal
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sunni politicians condemn arrest warrant for Culture Minister
Politics
(RFE/RL) - The Sunni-led Iraqi People's Conference issued a statement on June 27 condemning the arrest warrant issued against Iraqi Culture Minister As'ad Kamal al-Hashimi on terrorism charges, "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" reported the same day. "The [Iraqi] government is stupidly playing with fire in continuing a policy of lies meant to exclude Sunni officials and politicians," the statement said.
The Iraqi People's Conference "threatens to expose those high-ranking officials, ministers, members of parliament, and even Shi'ite religious figures who are involved with crimes of extermination against the Sunni people, such as killings, kidnappings, and forced relocations."
Muhannad al-Issawi, a spokesman for People's Conference head Adnan al-Dulaymi, who is also the leader of the Iraqi Accordance Front, the largest Sunni political bloc, told AP the same day that the arrest warrant is "a political matter, not a legal one" and warned that the issue "aims to marginalize the Sunnis." The arrest warrant, issued on June 26, alleges that al-Hashimi ordered the killing of Sunni lawmaker Mithal al-Alusi's two sons in Baghdad in 2005.
Labels: Adnan Dulaimi, arrest, As'ad Kamal al-Hashimi, Iraqi Accordance Front, Iraqi People's Conference, Muhannad al-Issawi
