9/11/2010Al-Hakim calls on Iraqis to take decisive step to overcome political crisis
BAGHDAD, Chief of Iraq's Islamic Supreme Council Ammar Al-Hakim on Saturday called on Iraqi political factions to take a decisive and courageous step towards overcoming the country's political crisis and hasten the formation of a government, defending his own party's decision to announce the candidacy of Adel Abdulmehdi as a Prime Minister candidate.
In a speech he made on the Islamic festive occasion of Eid Al-Fitr, Al-Hakim described Abdulmehdi as a man of "wide political and financial knowledge." Al-Hakim also critisised what he deemed "a long period being taken in the government formation, due to the multiplied ambitions of the sides," adding that this has led to "widescale international humiliation" and local resentment.
The official noted that he was unprepared to take part in "a government that does not include the most basic components of success," adding that the upcoming government should be one of "national service, selecting competent ministers and laws that aim to produce a development revolution."
He concluded with a fierce denunciation of American Pastor Terry Jones' earlier decision to burn the Holy Quran, by noting that "it is wrong to accuse Muslims of fundamentalism, when in fact, fundamentalism does not involve a certain religion or sect, and that rather, it is a problem that exists in every religion or belief."
(end) mhg.sd KUNA
