Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Anbar Tribal Sheikhs Will Announce Political Front; Abu Risha Contacts Insurgent Groups To Strengthen His Power
Politics
(Mashriq Newspaper) - 9 OCT - Anbar’s tribal sheikhs are ready to announce a political front. Meanwhile, a leader from an insurgent group has confirmed that Ahmed Abu Risha has contacted insurgent groups to support his power. Sheikh Ali Al Hatim, Anbar’s Tribal Council Chief, said that he will meet with the Anbar Awakening Council Chief, Ahmed Abu Risha and Sheikh Hamid Al Hayis, who was ousted from the council during Sheikh Abd Al Sattar Abu Risha’s regime. The goal of this meeting is to form a political front that has one opinion which all can agree on. Al Hatim said, “We will not allow anyone to make any decision alone or to say he represents the council which is led by Abu Risha.”
Some people close to Abu Risha have said that relations between Abu Risha and Al Hayis are bad because Al Hayis met with the Iraqi government in Baghdad, but Al Hatim said, “The relations between Al Hayis and Abu Risha are good and there is no disagreement between them.” Al Hatim added, “We do not accept Al Hayis to represent our positions in his meetings with the government or with other sides.” He confirmed, “We have our opinion about the meeting between Jalal Al Din Saghier and Al Hayis.” Al Hatim continued, “We do not have problems with SICI, but everyone knows that the relationships between the Sunni and Shiite sides are tense. Meetings such as these will increase the tension between these groups. The reports that claim Sheikh Al Hayis and I are working against Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha are incorrect. There is no tension between Abu Risha and Al Hayis.”
Al Hayis met with Sheikh Jalal Al Din Al Saghier, the Shiite Alliance and SICI member to discuss the problem of Anbar. During this meeting Al Hayis said, “Sheikh Abd Al Sattar Abu Risha played a large role in improving the opinion of Sunnis in Iraq.”
An anonymous leader from an insurgent group in Anbar said, “Al Hayis is not working for Anbar’s interest.” He confirmed, “Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha is a good politician, but sometimes he flatters people. Some Sunni politicians are trying to take credit for our achievements.” He added, “We demand that Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha follow the style of his brother Sheikh Abd Al Sattar Abu Risha.” He added “Al Hayis has visited Iran many times; therefore he must want to support any Iranian project in Iraq. Abu Risha has contacted the resistance leaders and that is important to us.”
In related news, Sunni Accord Front, Omar Abd Al Sattar said, “The Accord Front, Awakening Council, and the Tribal Council are working together with the Abu Risha family to serve Anbar Province.”
Some people close to Abu Risha have said that relations between Abu Risha and Al Hayis are bad because Al Hayis met with the Iraqi government in Baghdad, but Al Hatim said, “The relations between Al Hayis and Abu Risha are good and there is no disagreement between them.” Al Hatim added, “We do not accept Al Hayis to represent our positions in his meetings with the government or with other sides.” He confirmed, “We have our opinion about the meeting between Jalal Al Din Saghier and Al Hayis.” Al Hatim continued, “We do not have problems with SICI, but everyone knows that the relationships between the Sunni and Shiite sides are tense. Meetings such as these will increase the tension between these groups. The reports that claim Sheikh Al Hayis and I are working against Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha are incorrect. There is no tension between Abu Risha and Al Hayis.”
Al Hayis met with Sheikh Jalal Al Din Al Saghier, the Shiite Alliance and SICI member to discuss the problem of Anbar. During this meeting Al Hayis said, “Sheikh Abd Al Sattar Abu Risha played a large role in improving the opinion of Sunnis in Iraq.”
An anonymous leader from an insurgent group in Anbar said, “Al Hayis is not working for Anbar’s interest.” He confirmed, “Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha is a good politician, but sometimes he flatters people. Some Sunni politicians are trying to take credit for our achievements.” He added, “We demand that Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha follow the style of his brother Sheikh Abd Al Sattar Abu Risha.” He added “Al Hayis has visited Iran many times; therefore he must want to support any Iranian project in Iraq. Abu Risha has contacted the resistance leaders and that is important to us.”
In related news, Sunni Accord Front, Omar Abd Al Sattar said, “The Accord Front, Awakening Council, and the Tribal Council are working together with the Abu Risha family to serve Anbar Province.”
Labels: Anbar Salvation Council, Anbar Tribal Council, insurgent groups, Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha, Sheikh Ali Al Hatim, Sheikh Hamid Al Hayis, Sheikh Jalal Al Din Al Saghier, SICI
Monday, August 20, 2007
Muthanna governor assassinated
Security
(AP) - A roadside bomb killed the governor of the southern Muthanna province on Monday, police said, the second assassination of a top provincial official in just over a week. The blast struck the convoy carrying Mohammed Ali al-Hassani at about 9 a.m., killing him and seriously wounding his office manager and two guards, a police officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.
On Aug. 11, the governor and police chief of another southern province, Qadasiyah, also were killed in a roadside bombing attack. Both governors were members of the influential Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, a group led by Shiite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim whose loyalists have been fighting the Mahdi Army militia for control of the oil-rich south. Muthanna was the first province that was transferred to Iraqi control last year.
On Aug. 11, the governor and police chief of another southern province, Qadasiyah, also were killed in a roadside bombing attack. Both governors were members of the influential Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, a group led by Shiite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim whose loyalists have been fighting the Mahdi Army militia for control of the oil-rich south. Muthanna was the first province that was transferred to Iraqi control last year.
COMMENT: The SICI and the Badr Organisation are mainly blaming the Mahdi Army for the assassinations of their officials. The Shia parties are locked in a power struggle for domination of the south and as a result this latest assassination could lead to violent clashes between the two rival factions. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: assassination, Mohammed Ali al-Hassani, Muthanna, SICI, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council
Friday, August 17, 2007
Yezidi leader blames Iraq, Iran for attack
Security
(Al-Sharqiyah television) - Yezidi leader Anwar Mu'awiyah al-Umawi has accused the Iraqi government and Iran of responsibility for the August 15 attacks. He told Al-Sharqiyah television in an August 15 interview from Germany: "We received direct reports from informed sources in the area that the Iraqi government played a role [in the attacks]. Gangs affiliated with Iran are known to carry out such attacks. We should not forget that Iraq is not only under U.S. occupation. Iraq is under both U.S. and Iranian occupation.
These operations are meant to harm the Iraqis rather than a certain sect." Al-Umawi said his people have no one to turn to for support. "Iraq is now run by the traitors, while patriotic Iraqi figures, prominent leaders, and secular trends are abroad. So, who is there to complain to? Shall we complain to the Iranians, who are the enemies of Iraq? Shall we complain to the Americans, who are occupying the country? We have only God to complain to."
The Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council blamed "criminal gangs" for the Sinjar attack in an August 16 press release posted to the Shi'ite party's website. Though it did not accuse any party of carrying out the attack, the party's statement implied that Sunni Arabs are to blame. The statement called on Iraqi tribes and "popular forces" to work with Iraqi security services to "rid the Iraqi people of their killers."
In an August 15 statement, President Talabani called the bombings another episode of genocide carried out by "takfiri" (Muslims who consider other Muslims to be infidels) terrorists against all segments of the Iraqi people, Al-Iraqiyah television reported. Kurdistan regional President Barzani accused the intelligence agencies of unidentified regional countries of carrying out the attacks, Al-Sharqiyah television reported.
Meanwhile, the Sunni Arab Muslim Scholars Association said it holds the Iraqi government and coalition forces responsible for the attacks. The statement also implied Iran was behind the bombings. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the bombings a "horrific crime," and stressed "the urgent need for all Iraqi leaders, regardless of their political or religious affiliations, to work together to protect civilian lives and to dedicate themselves towards a meaningful dialogue aimed at ending the violence and achieving lasting national reconciliation," according to a UN press release. The U.S. military has said the bombings bore the hallmark of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
Kurdistan regional government Heath Minister Abd al-Rahman Yunis said the Kurdistan regional government and the Iraqi Red Crescent have begun to deliver relief supplies, food, and medicine to the villages.
Labels: Al Qaeda, AMS, Anwar Mu'awiyah al-Umawi, Iran, Iraqi government, Iraqi Red Crescent, KRG, SICI, Sinjar, Yezidis
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Kurdistan Region Would Like Allawi’s Bloc To Join The “Four Party” Front
Politics
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 7 AUG - The Kurdistan region’s President, and KDP leader, Massoud Barzani, met (recently) with Ayad Allawi and they discussed the recent developments in the Iraqi political process, especially, the crisis which confronts the Al Maliki government, since the Accord Front decided to withdraw from this government.
Sources close to the Kurdistan President’s office said, “Barzani discussed the subject of Allawi joining the ‘four party front’.” [He was referring to the new political front which includes the KDP, PUK, SICI, and Dawa parties.] Fouad Hussein, spokesman for the Kurdistan region’s government, said, “The two sides (Allawi and Barzani) discussed the forming of this ‘fourth front’… which will remain open to fronts from all sides of the political process.”
The sources continued, “Kurdistan’s regional command (group) is working to (convince) Allawi to join this ‘fourth front’.” The ‘fourth front’, which is also known as “The Moderate Front”, is a new political bloc which is ‘supposed to’ include: the two main Kurdish parties (KDP and PUK) plus the SICI and Dawa Parties. This (new) Front is open to accepting other groups, into the Front, if those groups believe in the political process.
Yesterday, an Iraqi List source announced: former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, the leader of the Iraqi List, has ‘requested’ his List’s five Ministers (in Maliki’s Cabinet) to boycott the meetings of the Ministers’ Council… (This boycott is called for) as a condemnation of the ‘workings of this government’ (the Al Maliki Administration) which Allawi described as “sectarian”.
In related news, on Saturday, US President George Bush phoned (Kurdistan’s) President Barzani…they (the two men) shared their points of view regarding the current situation in Iraq. Barzani confirmed, to Bush, that he (Barzani) is working with Iraq’s leader in order to bring out of its current crisis. Barzani was expected to go to Baghdad, on Sunday, in order to participate in a meeting of ‘top-level’ political leaders.
Sources close to the Kurdistan President’s office said, “Barzani discussed the subject of Allawi joining the ‘four party front’.” [He was referring to the new political front which includes the KDP, PUK, SICI, and Dawa parties.] Fouad Hussein, spokesman for the Kurdistan region’s government, said, “The two sides (Allawi and Barzani) discussed the forming of this ‘fourth front’… which will remain open to fronts from all sides of the political process.”
The sources continued, “Kurdistan’s regional command (group) is working to (convince) Allawi to join this ‘fourth front’.” The ‘fourth front’, which is also known as “The Moderate Front”, is a new political bloc which is ‘supposed to’ include: the two main Kurdish parties (KDP and PUK) plus the SICI and Dawa Parties. This (new) Front is open to accepting other groups, into the Front, if those groups believe in the political process.
Yesterday, an Iraqi List source announced: former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, the leader of the Iraqi List, has ‘requested’ his List’s five Ministers (in Maliki’s Cabinet) to boycott the meetings of the Ministers’ Council… (This boycott is called for) as a condemnation of the ‘workings of this government’ (the Al Maliki Administration) which Allawi described as “sectarian”.
In related news, on Saturday, US President George Bush phoned (Kurdistan’s) President Barzani…they (the two men) shared their points of view regarding the current situation in Iraq. Barzani confirmed, to Bush, that he (Barzani) is working with Iraq’s leader in order to bring out of its current crisis. Barzani was expected to go to Baghdad, on Sunday, in order to participate in a meeting of ‘top-level’ political leaders.
Labels: Ayad Allawi, Dawa party, Four party front, Iraqi Accord Front, KDP, Massoud Barzani, PUK, SICI, The Moderate Front
Friday, July 13, 2007
Al Hakim calls for Sunnis to support Maliki
Politics
(Gulf News) - The leader of Iraq's largest Shiite political party said he will stand by Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and urged Sunnis not to abandon the political process, promising serious efforts to solve any problem angering them. Abdul Aziz Al Hakim's written comments were received by the Associated Press yesterday in response to questions sent to him last week. The leader of the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq is in Iran for cancer treatment. Al Maliki's coalition has been weakened by a Sunni boycott and wrangling over political benchmarks that the United States is pushing the Prime Minister to pass.
Labels: Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, Nouri Al-Maliki, SICI, Sunnis
Monday, July 02, 2007
Sadr Movement Rejects New Political Entity
Politics
(Al Mashriq Newspaper) - 1 JUL - The Sadr Movement has rejected the new political front project that consists of SICI, Dawa Party, PUK, and the KDP. The Sadr Movement Parliament chief, Nassar Al Rubaie said, “This alliance will fail due to the objection of many entities and Parliament members. The current Iraqi situation is not the right time for marginalization. This marginalization will damage the political process. These alliances are based on narrow and private interests. There are old alliances that should be respected by others. These new alliances intend to divide the old alliances and start new alliances by marginalizing others.”
Labels: Dawa party, KDP, Nassar Al Rubaie, new political front, PUK, Sadr movement, SICI
Friday, June 22, 2007
Shake-up planned to strengthen Maliki's power base
Politics
(AP) - Iraq's politicians are trying to stitch together a new majority alliance in parliament that would leave Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in power and freeze out backers of a powerful Shiite cleric who is leading a political standoff, officials said Thursday. The apparent dealmaking comes amid increasing pressure from Washington for Iraqi lawmakers to end their impasses and move ahead with reforms - including a key law on sharing Iraq's oil wealth - considered essential to bring together the country's divided factions and ease the Sunni-Shiite bloodshed.
Iraq's political leadership has been locked in feuds for months with radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The disputes have cast doubt on al-Maliki's ability to stay in office. In April, six cabinet ministers loyal to al-Sadr quit the government to protest his refusal to call for a timetable for American troops to leave. Then last week, al-Sadr's 30-member parliament bloc began a boycott after accusing the government of failing to protect an important Shiite shrine in Samarra that was hit again by suspected Sunni bombers linked to al-Qaida.
Lawmakers and aides familiar with the negotiations said the goal is to keep al-Maliki, a Shiite, and possibly reach out to moderate Sunni groups to form a new governing majority in the 275-seat parliament. They also said al-Maliki may try to broaden his circle of close advisers to include President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd who holds a mostly ceremonial position, and his two vice presidents. The parliament members and aides spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
Al-Maliki's supporters would like to marginalize both al-Sadr's bloc and a small group of radical Sunnis - which were needed to form a workable majority coalition after elections in 2005. But such a new political alignment could inspire more sectarian violence. So far, the talks have included Iraq's two largest Shiite parties - al-Maliki's Dawa Party and the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq - and the two main Kurdish parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
The Iraqi Islamic Party, the country's largest Sunni Arab group, has been approached to join the bloc, along with independent Shiite legislators. Shiites and Kurds, with the Islamic Party and independent Shiites, should manage a majority. Islamic Party lawmaker Salim Abdullah confirmed attempts to build a new "bloc of moderates," with U.S. approval. He declined to say whether the Islamic Party was approached to join.
Al-Maliki spoke this week of a "comprehensive" makeover in government, chipping away at the sectarian, power-sharing formula that has dictated power-sharing in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003. If formed, the new bloc would command a majority of at least 160 seats, enough to secure the adoption of draft laws on the distribution of Iraq's oil wealth, reinstating junior members of Saddam's Baath party to government jobs and the scheduling of local elections. Also at stake are constitutional amendments demanded by minority Sunni Arabs.
Washington has said its four-month-old security operation in Baghdad was partly an effort to give al-Maliki's government some room to move ahead with political reforms. The crackdown has not significantly eased sectarian violence in the capital, but al-Maliki still has come under sharp criticism for not pushing ahead with the U.S.-backed political changes.
Leaving the Sadrists out of the proposed political shakeup would further diminish parliament's Shiite bloc - the Fadhila party pulled out its 15 lawmakers in March - and could meet opposition from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's top Shiite cleric who has been keen on Shiite unity at any price.
Iraq's political leadership has been locked in feuds for months with radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The disputes have cast doubt on al-Maliki's ability to stay in office. In April, six cabinet ministers loyal to al-Sadr quit the government to protest his refusal to call for a timetable for American troops to leave. Then last week, al-Sadr's 30-member parliament bloc began a boycott after accusing the government of failing to protect an important Shiite shrine in Samarra that was hit again by suspected Sunni bombers linked to al-Qaida.
Lawmakers and aides familiar with the negotiations said the goal is to keep al-Maliki, a Shiite, and possibly reach out to moderate Sunni groups to form a new governing majority in the 275-seat parliament. They also said al-Maliki may try to broaden his circle of close advisers to include President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd who holds a mostly ceremonial position, and his two vice presidents. The parliament members and aides spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
Al-Maliki's supporters would like to marginalize both al-Sadr's bloc and a small group of radical Sunnis - which were needed to form a workable majority coalition after elections in 2005. But such a new political alignment could inspire more sectarian violence. So far, the talks have included Iraq's two largest Shiite parties - al-Maliki's Dawa Party and the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq - and the two main Kurdish parties, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
The Iraqi Islamic Party, the country's largest Sunni Arab group, has been approached to join the bloc, along with independent Shiite legislators. Shiites and Kurds, with the Islamic Party and independent Shiites, should manage a majority. Islamic Party lawmaker Salim Abdullah confirmed attempts to build a new "bloc of moderates," with U.S. approval. He declined to say whether the Islamic Party was approached to join.
Al-Maliki spoke this week of a "comprehensive" makeover in government, chipping away at the sectarian, power-sharing formula that has dictated power-sharing in Iraq since Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003. If formed, the new bloc would command a majority of at least 160 seats, enough to secure the adoption of draft laws on the distribution of Iraq's oil wealth, reinstating junior members of Saddam's Baath party to government jobs and the scheduling of local elections. Also at stake are constitutional amendments demanded by minority Sunni Arabs.
Washington has said its four-month-old security operation in Baghdad was partly an effort to give al-Maliki's government some room to move ahead with political reforms. The crackdown has not significantly eased sectarian violence in the capital, but al-Maliki still has come under sharp criticism for not pushing ahead with the U.S.-backed political changes.
Leaving the Sadrists out of the proposed political shakeup would further diminish parliament's Shiite bloc - the Fadhila party pulled out its 15 lawmakers in March - and could meet opposition from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's top Shiite cleric who has been keen on Shiite unity at any price.
Labels: Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Dawa party, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Nouri Al-Maliki, SICI
Thursday, June 07, 2007
UIA member criticises calls for government to resign
Politics
(Al Mowaten Newspaper) - 6 JUN - The SICI spokesman announced that they were surprised by the announcement of a new political front on April 29, 2007. The spokesman said “The new bloc was created by powers and people already participating in the political process and the government. I criticize calls to return the Saddamists and former security members to government positions in exchange for removing the militia from their current security positions. This is the militia which fought against the Saddam regime and participated in releasing Iraq from the crimes of Saddam.”
Sheikh Jalal Al Din Al Saghier, an Alliance Parliament member, criticized calls on the government to resign. He said on Tuesday, “The crisis will not be solved by calling on the government to resign because the circumstances are very difficult and any government instead of this government cannot do anything more than this government is providing. This government wants to restore security and stability to this country. The solution is that all the powers should be committed to build this country through agreements.” Some political parties demand Al Maliki’s government resign as their protest of the difficult situation in Iraq.
Sheikh Jalal Al Din Al Saghier, an Alliance Parliament member, criticized calls on the government to resign. He said on Tuesday, “The crisis will not be solved by calling on the government to resign because the circumstances are very difficult and any government instead of this government cannot do anything more than this government is providing. This government wants to restore security and stability to this country. The solution is that all the powers should be committed to build this country through agreements.” Some political parties demand Al Maliki’s government resign as their protest of the difficult situation in Iraq.
Labels: former security forces, Saddamists, Sheikh Jalal Al Din Al Saghier, SICI
