Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010
Iraq’s Sunnis bending on prime minister position
The Sunni-backed political coalition that won Iraq's parliamentary election appears to be giving up its demand for the prime minister's post.
A key leader in the secular Iraqiya movement told The Associated Press Sunday that the party does not have to receive the top job as long as it get an equal share of power in Iraq's government.
The statement by Shiite Sheik Adnan al-Danbous is the strongest concession to date by Iraqiya and could break the seven-month political impasse that has stymied Iraq from seating a new government.
But it is sure to anger Sunnis in Iraqiya who have predicted the end of democracy in the country if Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki succeeds in backroom negotiating to keep his job.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/oct/10/iraqs-sunnis-bending-on-prime-minister-position/
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Sunni-backed bloc bending on Iraqi premiershipSunday, October 10, 2010
Baghdad, The Sunni-backed political coalition that narrowly won the most votes in Iraq's parliamentary election appeared Sunday to be giving up its demand for the premiership, boosting the Shiite prime minister's drive to keep his job.
The stunning turnabout is sure to inflame Iraq's minority Sunnis, whose crucial support helped the secular Iraqiya movement edge ahead of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's political coalition in the March 7 parliamentary election. U.S. diplomats worry that Sunnis who feel sidelined by backroom deal-making over formation of a new government could spark unrest.
A key Iraqiya leader said Sunday the party is no longer insisting on receiving the top job as long as it gets an equal share of power in Iraq's government. It marks the strongest concession to date by Iraqiya, and could break the seven-month political impasse that has stymied Iraq from seating a new government.
"We have reached a position that we don't care anymore about posts," said Sheik Adnan al-Danbous, a Shiite who is close to Iraqiya chief Ayad Allawi. "Posts are not as important to us as having participation in decision-making."
Al-Danbous said Iraqiya could live with Prime Minister al-Maliki keeping his job - so long as the party gets other plum positions, like the presidency or parliament speaker.
"We don't mind if al-Maliki is the prime minister, but we have to have a decision-making post," al-Danbous said.
Marginalized in Iraq's power circles after Saddam Hussein's ouster and after boycotting 2005 elections, Sunnis joined with Iraqiya this year in hopes of regaining political strength and credibility. Sunnis make up the majority of Iraqiya, which is widely recognized as the largest and most influential nonreligious political alliance. The party's leader, former Prime Minister Allawi is a Shiite.
The stunning turnabout is sure to inflame Iraq's minority Sunnis, whose crucial support helped the secular Iraqiya movement edge ahead of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's political coalition in the March 7 parliamentary election. U.S. diplomats worry that Sunnis who feel sidelined by backroom deal-making over formation of a new government could spark unrest.
A key Iraqiya leader said Sunday the party is no longer insisting on receiving the top job as long as it gets an equal share of power in Iraq's government. It marks the strongest concession to date by Iraqiya, and could break the seven-month political impasse that has stymied Iraq from seating a new government.
"We have reached a position that we don't care anymore about posts," said Sheik Adnan al-Danbous, a Shiite who is close to Iraqiya chief Ayad Allawi. "Posts are not as important to us as having participation in decision-making."
Al-Danbous said Iraqiya could live with Prime Minister al-Maliki keeping his job - so long as the party gets other plum positions, like the presidency or parliament speaker.
"We don't mind if al-Maliki is the prime minister, but we have to have a decision-making post," al-Danbous said.
Marginalized in Iraq's power circles after Saddam Hussein's ouster and after boycotting 2005 elections, Sunnis joined with Iraqiya this year in hopes of regaining political strength and credibility. Sunnis make up the majority of Iraqiya, which is widely recognized as the largest and most influential nonreligious political alliance. The party's leader, former Prime Minister Allawi is a Shiite.
