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, July 27, 2007
Al-Hakim calls for meeting with Iraqi Accordance Front
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of Shiite United Iraqi Coalition (UIC), called on Thursday the leaders of the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front (IAF) to an immediate meeting after the Sunni bloc threatened to "withdraw from the government if its demands were not met," Vice-President Hashemi's office said.
"A call by Sayyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim for the meeting came during a visit on Thursday by the Iraqi Vice President and member of IAF Tariq al-Hashemi to the head of Coalition Bloc Abdul Aziz al-Hakim on his return from medical trip," Hashemi's office said a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The statement explained that Hakim's call to a meeting between the Iraqi Accordance Front and the Iraqi United Coalition was meant to discuss the demands of the Front. The Iraqi Accordance Front set on Thursday one-week deadline to meet its demands otherwise it would totally withdraw from the government. It demanded, among others, releasing detainees and having partnership in making security and political decisions.
Meanwhile, parliamentarian Harith al-Ubaidi said on Thursday the Accordance Front suspended it participation in the government until its demands were met. "The Front decided on Thursday to suspend it membership in the government until the demands it has announced will be met," al-Ubaidi told VOI over the phone.
He added "our demands circle around issuing amnesty in preparation to release the detainees and prisoners and stop the raids, arrests, and illegal practices. Those who suspended their membership were deputy premier Salam al-Zobae and the six ministers representing the front," al-Ubaidi explained.
The Iraqi Accordance Front has (44) seats out of 275-member-Parliament and has six ministries within the cabinet. The spokesperson for the Front said on Thursday the Accordance will withdraw from the Iraqi government if its demands were not seriously addressed. "The Front suffered from procrastination and delay, and if the government does not respond to our demands…we will have to withdraw from the government and the parliament," said MP Abdullah Saleem told VOI.
"The withdrawal applies to Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zobae, and excludes Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi", he noted. The Front has already announced suspending its ministers' participation in the government against what it said "wrong practices by the Iraqi authorities towards the front member and minister of culture Asaad al Hashimi.
"A call by Sayyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim for the meeting came during a visit on Thursday by the Iraqi Vice President and member of IAF Tariq al-Hashemi to the head of Coalition Bloc Abdul Aziz al-Hakim on his return from medical trip," Hashemi's office said a statement received by the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The statement explained that Hakim's call to a meeting between the Iraqi Accordance Front and the Iraqi United Coalition was meant to discuss the demands of the Front. The Iraqi Accordance Front set on Thursday one-week deadline to meet its demands otherwise it would totally withdraw from the government. It demanded, among others, releasing detainees and having partnership in making security and political decisions.
Meanwhile, parliamentarian Harith al-Ubaidi said on Thursday the Accordance Front suspended it participation in the government until its demands were met. "The Front decided on Thursday to suspend it membership in the government until the demands it has announced will be met," al-Ubaidi told VOI over the phone.
He added "our demands circle around issuing amnesty in preparation to release the detainees and prisoners and stop the raids, arrests, and illegal practices. Those who suspended their membership were deputy premier Salam al-Zobae and the six ministers representing the front," al-Ubaidi explained.
The Iraqi Accordance Front has (44) seats out of 275-member-Parliament and has six ministries within the cabinet. The spokesperson for the Front said on Thursday the Accordance will withdraw from the Iraqi government if its demands were not seriously addressed. "The Front suffered from procrastination and delay, and if the government does not respond to our demands…we will have to withdraw from the government and the parliament," said MP Abdullah Saleem told VOI.
"The withdrawal applies to Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zobae, and excludes Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi", he noted. The Front has already announced suspending its ministers' participation in the government against what it said "wrong practices by the Iraqi authorities towards the front member and minister of culture Asaad al Hashimi.
Labels: Abdul Aziz Al Hakim, Harith al-Ubaidi, Iraqi Accordance Front, Salam al-Zobae, Tariq al-Hashemi, United Iraqi Coalition, withdrawal
