Monday, January 31st 2011
PM advisor: Security plans cannot be presented to parliament before implementation
Baghdad, The Prime Minister’s legal advisor said on Monday that the demand of some MPs that security plans are submitted to parliament before implementation cannot be met, saying that it is not necessary for them to know such details.
Fadel Mohammed told AKnews that parliament plays a legislative and regulatory role in government plans to achieve security and stability, but preparing the security plans and implementing them is under the jurisdiction of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
Until permanent replacements are nominated, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki holds the administration of the ministries of Defense, the Interior and National Security since parliament granted him its vote of confidence on December 21.
National Coalition (NC) deputy Sabah al-Saadi said in a Baghdad press conference yesterday that he had submitted a request from 57 MPs asking the government to submit its security plans and strategies one month ahead of implementation.
“Security plans are usually confidential, urgent and changing at the same time ... From a legal and professional perspective, this would allow (parliament) to view the security plans before their implementation,” he said.
Despite the successive application of tightened security plans in Baghdad, the city still witnesses almost daily acts of insurgent violence. Earlier this month, a wave of planned assassinations on the streets of the Iraqi capital, spurred Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to announce an unusually high state of alert.
With the Arab League Summit scheduled to begin in Baghdad on March 23, the government is under increasing pressure to eradicate insurgent activity on the capital’s streets.
http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/214778/
