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| Iraq |
| Al-Maliki poised to become next Iraqi prime minister |
| 2006-04-22 |
| An outspoken Shiite lawmaker secured his coalition's support and appeared to win over a broader political spectrum as well Friday, all but assuring he will become prime minister in a new government that must confront a growing sense of drift and chaos on the streets. Jawad al-Maliki is a close ally of the incumbent prime minister, Ibrahaim al-Jaafari, but Iraqi politicians said his tough, direct manner and the perception that he's a competent enforcer makes him more acceptable to Sunnis and Kurds. Al-Maliki, 56, who played a key role in drafting Iraq's constitution last year, said in a brief telephone interview that he was humbled by the tasks before him as leader of Iraq's first permanent government since 2003. "It's going to be a lot of responsibility if it happens," he said. "I just want to serve my country and help the helpless people." Failed efforts to form a government more than four months after Dec. 15 parliamentary elections have stalled reconstruction projects, delayed legislation aimed at curbing the grown of armed groups, and fed a growing sense of lawlessness. Relieved U.S. and Iraqi officials, exhausted after weeks of negotiations over the government, hailed al-Maliki's elevation as a significant breakthrough, even though fractious discussions over the leadership of the security services remain. "A major step has been taken with regard to the formation of a government of national unity, which already has a program agreement on a process for decision-making and new institutions," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said in an interview. "It's a significant step ... in the right direction, but there will be difficult days ahead." Al-Jaafari's bid to retain his post collapsed amid opposition by Kurds, Sunnis and a secular list led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as well as skepticism by U.S. and international community. Opposition by Shiite leaders and clergy finally persuaded him to halt his efforts to remain in power. He agreed Thursday to reopen talks within his Shiite coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance. In a televised news conference, Humam Hamoudi, one of the alliance leaders, said al-Maliki received the nomination after securing the votes from the leaders of six out of seven blocs within the coalition, which holds 130 of the 275 seats in the National Assembly. The Parliament is scheduled to convene Saturday to discuss the formation of a government. Hamoudi said Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis would meet beforehand to discuss other key posts, including the re-nomination of Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, as president and the probable naming of Sunni Arab legislator Mahmoud Mashadani as speaker of Parliament. Hamoudi said Shiite leaders had canvassed Sunnis and Kurds in recent days about al-Maliki and won their acceptance. Al-Maliki himself said he'd spoken to leaders of other blocs, who told him he had their support. "The Kurds called me and they say and they have no objection," he told the Los Angeles Times. "I called the Sunnis and they said they have no objection and they will fully cooperate. Allawi's list also supports me." Al-Jaafari, who has served as prime minister since last year, narrowly defeated a rival in a February vote to be renamed the Shiite nominee for premier, but failed to gain broader support. Al-Jaafari's opponents accused him of being too weak in his management ability and too sectarian in his outlook to lead a country plagued by an explosion of inter-communal violence and an ongoing Sunni Arab insurgency. "We know Jawad Maliki well," said Iyad Samarai, a leader of the main Sunni political bloc. "We know his opinions and views well, and we think that he can do the job in a better way (than al-Jaafari)." Saadi Barzanchi, a member of the Kurdish coalition, called al-Maliki more "open" in his public demeanor and a stricter administrator. "We think Jaafari was not successful in his performance as a prime minister in the last year and during the period after December's election," he said. "Security, economy and services are deteriorating." Khalilzad, who said he has had long chats with al-Maliki, said he'd been "encouraged" by a softening on issues such as keeping former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party out of the government, which many people criticize as a cover for purging Sunnis. Al-Jaafari, a physician and theologian, only agreed to step down after he was confronted with intense domestic and international pressure. Among several preconditions, Jafari demanded that his successor be a member of his Dawa Party. "Jaafari's agreement wasn't without a price," said the aide to one high-level Shiite legislator. "Otherwise the floor might have been opened and another candidate might have been chosen." Iraq's violence continued. In the far northeastern corner of Iraq, Iranian planes and rockets targeted rebel Kurdish positions, Kurdish officials said. The Kurdish Firat news agency reported the death of three guerrillas. Mostafa Said Qader, a Kurdish official in Sulaymaniyah, said Iranian forces massed at the border had launched Katyusha missiles and air strikes on an outpost of one of the Kurdish groups. In the capital, police found seven bodies of men shot in the head, in the execution style associated with Shiite militias. Roadside bombs near the city's Yarmouk hospital injured 11 people. Two roadside bombs targeting police and army patrols in Mosul killed five Iraqis and injuring four, said an Iraqi police officer in Mosul. The U.S. military reported the death of a Marine in fighting in Anbar province. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #6 Mounting casualties is taking the week off and being relieved by increasing chaos. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-22 19:40 |
| #5 mounting casualties ie falling off the horse. |
| Posted by: john 2006-04-22 19:37 |
| #4 And where the hell is, "mounting casualties"? |
| Posted by: JDB 2006-04-22 13:50 |
| #3 that must confront a growing sense of drift and chaos on the streets. heh 2B. Points off for no surgin violence tho. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-04-22 13:23 |
| #2 [Al Maliki]...secured his coalition's support and...., he will become prime minister in a new government that must confront a growing sense of drift and chaos on the streets. Am I the only one who thinks this reporter deserves two awards for using this in the opening paragraph? One for the best use of squeezing in editor approved buzz phrases and one for the most ridiculous use of a buzz phrase? |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-04-22 10:32 |
| #1 In the far northeastern corner of Iraq, Iranian planes and rockets targeted rebel Kurdish positions, Kurdish officials said. Turks to the left of me Iranians to the right , here I am stuck in the middle with you! |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-04-22 10:28 |