Monday, June 11, 2007
Al-Maliki urges military to thwart possible coup
Politics
(Azzaman) - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has asked his military commanders to confront any attempt to topple him as political factions have joined efforts to unseat him. Maliki accused his political opponents of seeking help from abroad to stage what he described as ‘a coup’ against his government.
Several political parties with representatives in the parliament are openly opposing the way Maliki has been handling issues related to security but particularly their concerns regarding national reconciliation. “Some parties which are part of the political process are involved in staging a coup against the Iraqi government,” said Sami al-Askari, a senior member of Maliki’s coalition government.
Several political parties with representatives in the parliament are openly opposing the way Maliki has been handling issues related to security but particularly their concerns regarding national reconciliation. “Some parties which are part of the political process are involved in staging a coup against the Iraqi government,” said Sami al-Askari, a senior member of Maliki’s coalition government.
Tareq al-Hashemi, a vice-president, and head of the main Sunni faction in parliament, is on a tour of Arab states and has hinted that a new ‘moderate front’ to counterbalance Maliki’s coalition was being formed. Maliki draws most of his support from Kurdish factions who have a large bloc in the parliament. His coalition was dealt a blow when Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said he was not happy with his performance.
A meeting in Cairo which brought together several parties among them small Kurdish factions seems to have unnerved the government. Ayad Allawi, a former prime minister, as well as Hashemi and the leader of a Kurdish Islamic party met in Cairo with the aim of setting up a ‘secular’ government. Maliki is reported to have rushed to Iraqi Kurdistan to secure support from his traditional Kurdish allies, Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi President and Massoud Barzani, head of the Kurdish autonomous region.
These factions hope to form a united front against the current government but they still lack backing from within the mainstream Shiite parties. Invitations to attend the Cairo meeting were sent to the Shiite al-Fadhila party which holds power in the southern city of Basra and the more powerful Shiite movement of cleric Moqtada Sadr’s supporters.
Amar Wajeeh, a senior member of Hashemi’s Islamic Party, confirmed that a joint front has been established to confront Maliki. He said the front was established in Cairo when it became clear that Maliki and his coalition were thwarting attempts to form a moderate coalition. Wajeeh said the front was still waiting a response from Fadhila and has sent a letter inviting Sadr’s group to join. Wajeeh said there was no truth behind reports that the front was staging a ‘coup.’ He said the front would use democratic means and try to gather enough votes in the parliament to bring about change.
A meeting in Cairo which brought together several parties among them small Kurdish factions seems to have unnerved the government. Ayad Allawi, a former prime minister, as well as Hashemi and the leader of a Kurdish Islamic party met in Cairo with the aim of setting up a ‘secular’ government. Maliki is reported to have rushed to Iraqi Kurdistan to secure support from his traditional Kurdish allies, Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi President and Massoud Barzani, head of the Kurdish autonomous region.
These factions hope to form a united front against the current government but they still lack backing from within the mainstream Shiite parties. Invitations to attend the Cairo meeting were sent to the Shiite al-Fadhila party which holds power in the southern city of Basra and the more powerful Shiite movement of cleric Moqtada Sadr’s supporters.
Amar Wajeeh, a senior member of Hashemi’s Islamic Party, confirmed that a joint front has been established to confront Maliki. He said the front was established in Cairo when it became clear that Maliki and his coalition were thwarting attempts to form a moderate coalition. Wajeeh said the front was still waiting a response from Fadhila and has sent a letter inviting Sadr’s group to join. Wajeeh said there was no truth behind reports that the front was staging a ‘coup.’ He said the front would use democratic means and try to gather enough votes in the parliament to bring about change.
Labels: Ayad Allawi, coup, Fadhela party, Nouri Al-Maliki, Sami al-Askari, Tareq al-Hashemi
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Allawi Guarantees Arab And Regional Support For Coup Against Al Maliki
Politics
(Al Mada Newspaper) - 22 MAY - During a meeting of the Iraqi List in Jordan between the 17th and 19th of May, which was headed by Ayad Allawi and that was attended by Adnan Al Pachachi, Mahdi Al Hafidh, Ayad Jamal Al Din, Falah Al Naqib, Maysoun Al Damlouji, and others, Allawi demanded that his list’s members make the decision to withdraw from Al Maliki’s government promising them that there will be large regional support in many sectors.
Allawi adopted this position because of the political crisis in Iraq as well as because of the dominating political entity’s continuing of its sectarian agenda and its insistence to marginalize other entities from participating in the political process. Participants said that the meeting was devoted to discussing the political situation in Iraq which needs extraordinary steps. Sources said that Allawi confirmed that his political activities are supported by some Arab and regional countries, such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Yemen, and Syria.
The meeting also discussed the formation of a new political front to face the Iraqi situation and the inclusion of the National Dialogue Front in this new front as well as the inclusion of Khalaf Al Aliyan’s political entity. Information also states that there is an understanding with some members from Fadhila Party, the Sadr Movement, the Islamic Party, as well as some Kurds, “such as Arshad Zebari, who is well known as being one of Saddam’s mules.”
The meeting was also attended by the former Deputy PM, Abid Mutlak Al Jabouri. Leaders from the Iraqi List said that the meeting and side discussions were focused on mobilizing efforts to be utilized to dissolve the current political coalitions. Political sources in Amman expressed Allawi’s lack of confidence in the seriousness of the Islamic Party to take important steps toward this new political front. They also mentioned that Allawi is unsure of the Sadr Movement’s intentions regarding this new front.
The meeting also discussed the formation of a new political front to face the Iraqi situation and the inclusion of the National Dialogue Front in this new front as well as the inclusion of Khalaf Al Aliyan’s political entity. Information also states that there is an understanding with some members from Fadhila Party, the Sadr Movement, the Islamic Party, as well as some Kurds, “such as Arshad Zebari, who is well known as being one of Saddam’s mules.”
The meeting was also attended by the former Deputy PM, Abid Mutlak Al Jabouri. Leaders from the Iraqi List said that the meeting and side discussions were focused on mobilizing efforts to be utilized to dissolve the current political coalitions. Political sources in Amman expressed Allawi’s lack of confidence in the seriousness of the Islamic Party to take important steps toward this new political front. They also mentioned that Allawi is unsure of the Sadr Movement’s intentions regarding this new front.
These points were confirmed by Dr. Ali Al Adib, a Shiite Alliance member, when he said that the discussions between Allawi and the Sadr Movement were unsuccessful. These sources also said that there were two points of view during the Amman meeting. The first was Allawi’s point of view that was focusing on withdrawing from Al Maliki’s government in the next week. The second view of Al Pachachi was that the withdrawal from the government must be parallel with the announcement of the new political front.
Some participants, who have good relations with some Arab countries, believe that for support to continue from the Gulf countries, they must withdraw and announce the new front. The same participants confirmed that there is security and political coordination among these countries to develop assistance for Allawi’s plan.
Some observers say that the Iraqi List’s leadership is searching for any position in the government regardless of the higher national interest for Iraq.
Other observers, who are outside the government, believe that what is developing is intended to destroy the current political infrastructure in Iraq which confirms that if the current government wants to face this coup, it must take certain steps regarding the economic, political and security situations. The current government must also minimize sectarianism. These observers add that the government should also look toward open and secret dialogue with those in and outside of Iraq.
Some Iraq List members said that this political development is related to Cheney’s failure in convincing the Arab countries to support the political process in Iraq. Regarding Fadhila Party, some sources are saying that there has been a dialogue between it and Alllawi’s list. Meanwhile, Al Adib said that Fadhila Party is reconsidering its position regarding the Shiite Alliance and it will likely return to the Alliance in the next few days.
Some participants, who have good relations with some Arab countries, believe that for support to continue from the Gulf countries, they must withdraw and announce the new front. The same participants confirmed that there is security and political coordination among these countries to develop assistance for Allawi’s plan.
Some observers say that the Iraqi List’s leadership is searching for any position in the government regardless of the higher national interest for Iraq.
Other observers, who are outside the government, believe that what is developing is intended to destroy the current political infrastructure in Iraq which confirms that if the current government wants to face this coup, it must take certain steps regarding the economic, political and security situations. The current government must also minimize sectarianism. These observers add that the government should also look toward open and secret dialogue with those in and outside of Iraq.
Some Iraq List members said that this political development is related to Cheney’s failure in convincing the Arab countries to support the political process in Iraq. Regarding Fadhila Party, some sources are saying that there has been a dialogue between it and Alllawi’s list. Meanwhile, Al Adib said that Fadhila Party is reconsidering its position regarding the Shiite Alliance and it will likely return to the Alliance in the next few days.
Labels: coup, Fadhela party, Iraqi List, Iyad Allawi
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The Fadhela party accuses al-Sadr of plotting a regional coup
Oil, Security
(UPI) - Political and sectarian fighting in Iraq's oil capital, Basra, intensifies, threatening most of Iraq's oil production and all its oil exports. Basra is majority Shiite and, as the central city of the vast majority of Iraq's oil reserves and the largest port where nearly all its oil exports are sent from, equally as important to Iraq as Baghdad. Iraq has 115 billion barrels of proven reserves, and production is struggling at around 2 million barrels per day. Oil sales make up 93 percent of Iraq's budget.
The local government is controlled by the Fadhila Party. Its biggest competitor is the alliance led by Moqtada Sadr. The two sides launched bitter and violent battles against each other over the past weeks. On Monday a large demonstration was held in Basra demanding Muhammad Masbah al Waili, the Fadhila Party governor of Basra province, resign. Sadr and his Mahdi Army deny involvement in the rally and subsequent campaign for Waili to step down.
Regardless, it "marks a new escalation in intra-Shiite tensions, which will expose government institutions and energy infrastructures in the southern provinces to serious security risks," Rochdi Younsi, analyst for Middle East and Africa for the business risk firm Eurasia Group, wrote in a new report.
The local government is controlled by the Fadhila Party. Its biggest competitor is the alliance led by Moqtada Sadr. The two sides launched bitter and violent battles against each other over the past weeks. On Monday a large demonstration was held in Basra demanding Muhammad Masbah al Waili, the Fadhila Party governor of Basra province, resign. Sadr and his Mahdi Army deny involvement in the rally and subsequent campaign for Waili to step down.
Regardless, it "marks a new escalation in intra-Shiite tensions, which will expose government institutions and energy infrastructures in the southern provinces to serious security risks," Rochdi Younsi, analyst for Middle East and Africa for the business risk firm Eurasia Group, wrote in a new report.
Sadr says Waili and the Fadhila Party in Basra are corrupt, including involvement in oil smuggling that has cost the Iraqi government billions of dollars in oil revenues and worsened the fuel shortage in the country. Local tribal leaders also back that accusation, Younsi wrote. Fadhila accuses Sadr of planning a violent regional coup, including taking control of the Southern Oil Company. "Local oil infrastructures could be exposed to a higher security risk as the Shiite community in the south becomes more fragmented," Younsi wrote.
Labels: Basra, corruption, coup, Fadhela party, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Muhammad Masbah al Waili, oil, Southern Oil Company, violence
