Friday, September 07, 2007
Al Rubaie: “Dangerous Decisions” Could Be Made During Meeting With Sadr Movement In Najaf
Security, Politics
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 6 SEP - The Chief of the Sadr Bloc in Iraq’s Parliament – Nassar Al Rubaie has confirmed that “dangerous decisions” could be made during the upcoming meeting, in Najaf, between: Sadr Movement Parliament Members and Sadr Movement political office (headquarters) meetings. This meeting’s purpose is regarding the events in Karbala.
Meanwhile, the (Iraqi) Council of Ministers has released 46 detainees (people initially rounded up as suspects of involvement in Karbala’s clashes) who have been determined to have been detained under “insufficient grounds”. Yesterday, the Council of Ministers issued the following statement, “The investigative committee, which was established in accordance with PM Nuri Al Maliki’s instructions, has released 46 detainees. This committee will continue to execute its’ duties in checking the files (circumstances) of other detainees.”
The Sadr Movement has given the (Iraqi) government a deadline which expired yesterday about releasing the (Sadr Movement/Mahdi Army) detainees. If their prisoners were not released, the Sadr Movement has threatened the government with “disobedience” and “surprising reactions”.
On the other hand, Sadr Movement leaders have presented the “Karbala investigation committee” with evidence which proves that the Sadr Movement is innocent about starting the clashes which occurred in Karbala. A Sadr Movement leader confirmed, “CDs [video downloads?] that have been presented to the Committee show that ‘another group’ started these clashes…not the Sadr group.” According to this leader, the Committee has been convinced by this evidence; therefore, they have begun releasing the Sadr Movement members who had been arrested.
Meanwhile, the (Iraqi) Council of Ministers has released 46 detainees (people initially rounded up as suspects of involvement in Karbala’s clashes) who have been determined to have been detained under “insufficient grounds”. Yesterday, the Council of Ministers issued the following statement, “The investigative committee, which was established in accordance with PM Nuri Al Maliki’s instructions, has released 46 detainees. This committee will continue to execute its’ duties in checking the files (circumstances) of other detainees.”
The Sadr Movement has given the (Iraqi) government a deadline which expired yesterday about releasing the (Sadr Movement/Mahdi Army) detainees. If their prisoners were not released, the Sadr Movement has threatened the government with “disobedience” and “surprising reactions”.
On the other hand, Sadr Movement leaders have presented the “Karbala investigation committee” with evidence which proves that the Sadr Movement is innocent about starting the clashes which occurred in Karbala. A Sadr Movement leader confirmed, “CDs [video downloads?] that have been presented to the Committee show that ‘another group’ started these clashes…not the Sadr group.” According to this leader, the Committee has been convinced by this evidence; therefore, they have begun releasing the Sadr Movement members who had been arrested.
Meanwhile, Sadr Movement Parliament Members and the Sadr Movement Headquarters Office in Najaf will soon hold a meeting in order to reach an important decision about: what actions to take regarding the events in Karbala.
The Chief of the Sadr Bloc in Parliament – Nassar Al Rubaie said, “This is the first time that such a meeting will be held in order to (decide) how to deal with the current situation; and, determine a ‘final Sadr Movement stance’ regarding this situation.” He added: this meeting will focus on the events in Karbala and the ensuing “tremendous pressures which have been applied against” the Sadr Movement.
Iraq’s Voices News Agency reported that Al Rubaie stated, “There are dangerous ‘human rights violations’ which have been committed against the (Sadr Movement) detainees by militias in Karbala! The Sadr Movement members who have been detained since the events in Karbala last week have been tortured, and some have been killed!” Karbala Governorate Council Member – Hamid Khanoush, who is a senior leader in Karbala’s Sadr Movement, was arrested by the “3rd Brigade” and was tortured. Al Rubaie has called for the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights – (Ms.) Wijdan Mikhail (Salim) to: visit the prisons, and report on the “human rights violations” which are occurring.
Iraq’s Voices News Agency reported that Al Rubaie stated, “There are dangerous ‘human rights violations’ which have been committed against the (Sadr Movement) detainees by militias in Karbala! The Sadr Movement members who have been detained since the events in Karbala last week have been tortured, and some have been killed!” Karbala Governorate Council Member – Hamid Khanoush, who is a senior leader in Karbala’s Sadr Movement, was arrested by the “3rd Brigade” and was tortured. Al Rubaie has called for the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights – (Ms.) Wijdan Mikhail (Salim) to: visit the prisons, and report on the “human rights violations” which are occurring.
Labels: Hamid Khanoush, human rights violation, Karbala, Mahdi Army, Najaf, Nassar al-Rubaie, Sadr movement
Sadrist denies MNF reports of split in Mahdi Army
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - The head of the Sadrist parliamentary bloc on Thursday slammed the statement made by the Multi-National Forces' spokesman Brigadier General Kevin Bergner on some of the armed activities of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, despite Sadr's order to freeze their armed activities. "All of the Sadr movement, along with its military wing, are adhering to the order of Sayyed Muqtada al-Sadr to freeze the activities of Mahdi Army fighters," Nassar al-Rubaie told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
Head of the Sadrist parliamentary bloc added, "despite the continued raids and detaining of Sadr movement followers and Mahdi Army elements, there was no violation of (Sadr's) decision." Last Wednesday, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr surprisingly decided to freeze the armed activities of his followers after the clashes that erupted in the sacred Shiite city of Karbala while Shiite Muslim pilgrims were observing a religious occasion.
The spokesman for the Multi-National Forces in Iraq Brigadier General Kevin Bergner said yesterday that some cells from the Mahdi Army had not obeyed Sadr's order to freeze their activities, accusing them of "practicing armed activities." Meanwhile, an aide to Muqtada al-Sadr said in statements to VOI, "all wings of the Mahdi Army are committed to the decision (to freeze mobilization), despite continued arrests against the movement's followers, the last of which was the arrest of many Mahdi Army elements in Hilla city, 100 km southwest of Baghdad."
A Sadrist leader, who preferred his name not be mentioned, added "all Mahdi fighters are part of a single army under one leadership. The occupation forces should unveil the names of those arrested allegedly forming "special units" with links to Iran and practicing armed activities despite the decision to freeze," said the Sadrist leader wondering, "why they do not reveal their names to the media as a proof."
Brigadier General Bergner revealed on Wednesday the arrest of elements from "special units" that "have links to Iran and al-Quds Corps of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards."
"During the last few days, terrorist groups named "special units" were arrested. This network has links to Iran, which has provided the units with arms and explosives," the spokesman for the Multi-National Forces told a news conference.
The Multi-National Forces spokesman also said, "the arrested persons admitted their links to Iran and our intelligence indicated that they have connections to the Revolutionary Guards, Iranian al-Quds Corps and Lebanese Hezbollah." The Sadrist leader, who denied any link between the Mahdi Army and Iran, said, "all Mahdi Army fighters are now under control in order to purge those who want to bring the Sadr movement and Mahdi Army into disrepute."
Head of the Sadrist parliamentary bloc added, "despite the continued raids and detaining of Sadr movement followers and Mahdi Army elements, there was no violation of (Sadr's) decision." Last Wednesday, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr surprisingly decided to freeze the armed activities of his followers after the clashes that erupted in the sacred Shiite city of Karbala while Shiite Muslim pilgrims were observing a religious occasion.
The spokesman for the Multi-National Forces in Iraq Brigadier General Kevin Bergner said yesterday that some cells from the Mahdi Army had not obeyed Sadr's order to freeze their activities, accusing them of "practicing armed activities." Meanwhile, an aide to Muqtada al-Sadr said in statements to VOI, "all wings of the Mahdi Army are committed to the decision (to freeze mobilization), despite continued arrests against the movement's followers, the last of which was the arrest of many Mahdi Army elements in Hilla city, 100 km southwest of Baghdad."
A Sadrist leader, who preferred his name not be mentioned, added "all Mahdi fighters are part of a single army under one leadership. The occupation forces should unveil the names of those arrested allegedly forming "special units" with links to Iran and practicing armed activities despite the decision to freeze," said the Sadrist leader wondering, "why they do not reveal their names to the media as a proof."
Brigadier General Bergner revealed on Wednesday the arrest of elements from "special units" that "have links to Iran and al-Quds Corps of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards."
"During the last few days, terrorist groups named "special units" were arrested. This network has links to Iran, which has provided the units with arms and explosives," the spokesman for the Multi-National Forces told a news conference.
The Multi-National Forces spokesman also said, "the arrested persons admitted their links to Iran and our intelligence indicated that they have connections to the Revolutionary Guards, Iranian al-Quds Corps and Lebanese Hezbollah." The Sadrist leader, who denied any link between the Mahdi Army and Iran, said, "all Mahdi Army fighters are now under control in order to purge those who want to bring the Sadr movement and Mahdi Army into disrepute."
Labels: Brigadier General Kevin Bergner, Mahdi Army, Nassar al-Rubaie, Quds Force
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sadrists end parliament boycott
Politics
(Reuters) - The political bloc of fiery Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Tuesday it had resumed participation in Iraq's parliament, suspended last month in protest over an attack on a revered Shi'ite mosque. "Starting from today, we have ended our suspension to the parliament. We are back," Nassar al-Rubaei, spokesman for the bloc in parliament, told Reuters.
The movement holds 30 of parliament's 275 seats and also accounts for a quarter of the seats in the ruling Shi'ite Alliance of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The Sadrist bloc withdrew from parliament on June 13 after the destruction of the twin minarets of the Golden Mosque in Samarra by suspected al Qaeda militants. It complained that Maliki's government had not done enough to protect the shrine.
Rubaei said the bloc ended its boycott after the parliament responded to its demands on pressing the government to protect shrines. The bloc also pulled its six ministers from Maliki's cabinet in April in protest at his failure to set a deadline for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
The movement holds 30 of parliament's 275 seats and also accounts for a quarter of the seats in the ruling Shi'ite Alliance of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. The Sadrist bloc withdrew from parliament on June 13 after the destruction of the twin minarets of the Golden Mosque in Samarra by suspected al Qaeda militants. It complained that Maliki's government had not done enough to protect the shrine.
Rubaei said the bloc ended its boycott after the parliament responded to its demands on pressing the government to protect shrines. The bloc also pulled its six ministers from Maliki's cabinet in April in protest at his failure to set a deadline for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
Labels: Iraqi parliament, Nassar al-Rubaie, Sadrists
Monday, July 02, 2007
Sadrists criticise efforts to form new Shiite-Kurdish coalition
Politics
(AP) - Followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Saturday criticized efforts to form a new coalition of leading Shiite and Kurdish parties, saying isolating political groups was not the solution to Iraq's turmoil. Talk of a new coalition is widely seen as an effort to sideline al-Sadr's anti-American movement, that holds 30 seats in the 275-member parliament. Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia has been blamed for much of the sectarian killings that have claimed thousands of lives.
"This is a partial agreement that means isolating other groups and no one should be isolated," Nassar al-Rubaie, a Sadrist lawmaker, said. "The only solution to Iraq's problems is to set up a national unity government made up of technocrats and not divided on sectarian basis." Another Sadrist lawmaker suggested that the Americans want a political realignment to approve "benchmark" legislation to distribute oil revenue, hold provincial elections and overhauling rules that removed thousands of Saddam Hussein loyalists from their jobs.
"This is not a political bloc," said Nasser al-Saidi. "It is a bloc to gather the largest number of members of parliament to approve laws..." The Sadrists also expressed reservations about a statement made by President Jalal Talabani that more executive powers would be given to the Sunnis.
Speaking at a Socialist conference Friday in Switzerland, Talabani said an agreement has been reached between the presidential council, which includes the Kurdish president and his Sunni and Shiite deputies, and the prime minister to form a "joint leadership in accordance with the constitution that says that the executive authority is made up of the presidency and Cabinet."
"By this, the complaint that Sunni Arabs are deprived from playing a leading role is solved," Talabani said. "We are against giving powers to the presidential council because this will paralyze the government as the decisions will be in the hand of more than one person," al-Rubaie said. "We are a parliamentary system and the decision is in the hands of the prime minister."
Efforts to form a new government coalition have intensified because of major rifts within the Iraqi government, which the U.S. had hoped would bring together Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. Instead, the government is riveted with divisions.
In April, the six Cabinet ministers loyal to al-Sadr walked out of the government in protest after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki rejected calls for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces. Two weeks ago, the 30 Sadrist lawmakers announced they would stay away from parliament until the government comes up with a plan to rebuild a Shiite shrine in Samarra devastated by bombs. This week, four Sunni ministers said they will boycott Cabinet meetings to protest the way al-Maliki handled legal proceedings against one of their Sunni colleagues under investigation in a 2005 assassination attempt.
"This is a partial agreement that means isolating other groups and no one should be isolated," Nassar al-Rubaie, a Sadrist lawmaker, said. "The only solution to Iraq's problems is to set up a national unity government made up of technocrats and not divided on sectarian basis." Another Sadrist lawmaker suggested that the Americans want a political realignment to approve "benchmark" legislation to distribute oil revenue, hold provincial elections and overhauling rules that removed thousands of Saddam Hussein loyalists from their jobs.
"This is not a political bloc," said Nasser al-Saidi. "It is a bloc to gather the largest number of members of parliament to approve laws..." The Sadrists also expressed reservations about a statement made by President Jalal Talabani that more executive powers would be given to the Sunnis.
Speaking at a Socialist conference Friday in Switzerland, Talabani said an agreement has been reached between the presidential council, which includes the Kurdish president and his Sunni and Shiite deputies, and the prime minister to form a "joint leadership in accordance with the constitution that says that the executive authority is made up of the presidency and Cabinet."
"By this, the complaint that Sunni Arabs are deprived from playing a leading role is solved," Talabani said. "We are against giving powers to the presidential council because this will paralyze the government as the decisions will be in the hand of more than one person," al-Rubaie said. "We are a parliamentary system and the decision is in the hands of the prime minister."
Efforts to form a new government coalition have intensified because of major rifts within the Iraqi government, which the U.S. had hoped would bring together Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. Instead, the government is riveted with divisions.
In April, the six Cabinet ministers loyal to al-Sadr walked out of the government in protest after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki rejected calls for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces. Two weeks ago, the 30 Sadrist lawmakers announced they would stay away from parliament until the government comes up with a plan to rebuild a Shiite shrine in Samarra devastated by bombs. This week, four Sunni ministers said they will boycott Cabinet meetings to protest the way al-Maliki handled legal proceedings against one of their Sunni colleagues under investigation in a 2005 assassination attempt.
Labels: Kurds, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Nassar al-Rubaie, political coalition, Shias
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Iraqi lawmakers endorse bill calling for foreign troop withdrawl
Politics
(AP) - A majority of Iraqi lawmakers have endorsed a bill calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops and demanding a freeze on the number of foreign troops already in the country, lawmakers said Thursday. The legislation was being debated even as U.S. lawmakers were locked in a dispute with the White House over their call to start reducing the size of the U.S. force here in the coming months.
The Iraqi bill, drafted by a parliamentary bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, was signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, according to Nassar al-Rubaie, the leader of the Sadrist bloc. The Sadrist bloc, which sees the U.S.-led forces as an occupying army, has pushed similar bills before, but this was the first time it had garnered the support of a majority of lawmakers.
The bill would require the Iraqi government to seek approval from parliament before it requests an extension of the U.N. mandate for foreign forces to be in Iraq, al-Rubaie said. It also calls for a timetable for the troop withdrawal and a freeze on the size of the foreign forces. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in November to extend the U.S.-led forces' mandate until the end of 2007. The resolution, however, said the council "will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq."
Al-Rubaie said he personally handed the Iraqi bill to speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Wednesday. Deputy Speaker Khaled al-Attiyah told The Associated Press the draft legislation had not been officially submitted to the speaker, but was currently being reviewed by the house's legal department, apparently the final step before it can be submitted. Al-Rubaie said al-Mashhadani had a week to schedule a debate on the bill before he would use the majority that backs it to force a debate.
Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which launched two uprisings against U.S. troops in 2004, has been blamed in much of the recent sectarian violence against Sunnis and has been one of the main targets of a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown. Last month, the cleric ordered his six Cabinet ministers to leave the government after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki refused to put a timetable for foreign troops withdrawal.
The Iraqi bill, drafted by a parliamentary bloc loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, was signed by 144 members of the 275-member house, according to Nassar al-Rubaie, the leader of the Sadrist bloc. The Sadrist bloc, which sees the U.S.-led forces as an occupying army, has pushed similar bills before, but this was the first time it had garnered the support of a majority of lawmakers.
The bill would require the Iraqi government to seek approval from parliament before it requests an extension of the U.N. mandate for foreign forces to be in Iraq, al-Rubaie said. It also calls for a timetable for the troop withdrawal and a freeze on the size of the foreign forces. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in November to extend the U.S.-led forces' mandate until the end of 2007. The resolution, however, said the council "will terminate this mandate earlier if requested by the government of Iraq."
Al-Rubaie said he personally handed the Iraqi bill to speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Wednesday. Deputy Speaker Khaled al-Attiyah told The Associated Press the draft legislation had not been officially submitted to the speaker, but was currently being reviewed by the house's legal department, apparently the final step before it can be submitted. Al-Rubaie said al-Mashhadani had a week to schedule a debate on the bill before he would use the majority that backs it to force a debate.
Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, which launched two uprisings against U.S. troops in 2004, has been blamed in much of the recent sectarian violence against Sunnis and has been one of the main targets of a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown. Last month, the cleric ordered his six Cabinet ministers to leave the government after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki refused to put a timetable for foreign troops withdrawal.
Labels: Khaled al-Attiyah, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Nassar al-Rubaie, troop withdrawal, UNSC
